The chancellor’s comments signal that the public should not expect support for everybody.
They suggest any package of support will not apply to the richest households, in contrast to the Energy Price Guarantee that was rolled out universally after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Treasury has calculated that the top 10% richest households, as users of the most amount of gas, got the biggest support, averaging £1,350.
Reeves said the government was working with the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure support goes to those most in need.
Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused Reeves of leaving the UK economy “in tatters”.
“We are getting poorer and our economy is increasingly fragile,” he said.
On the targeted help Reeves mentioned, he asked: “What fiscal capacity does she believe she has to support those in need?”
The chancellor also announced a “new anti-profiteering framework” for the Competition and Markets Authority, which she says will have powers to tackle any companies that exploit price rises.
Companies which breach competition or consumer law, including through excessive pricing or by charging customers a higher price than advertised when they come to order, may be fined by the CMA.
The price of petrol has reached an 18-month high since the Middle East conflict broke out, according to the RAC. Petrol retailers have strongly denied price-gouging, and earlier this month criticised the government for using “inflammatory language”.
The watchdog is currently gathering evidence on whether fuel providers are profiteering, and it will be some time before it comes to a conclusion.
Meanwhile, fuel duty is set to increase in September, having been cut by 5p and frozen since the price spike following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, earlier this month the government said the planned rise would be kept under review as the Middle East conflict continues.