30 March 2007
The National Consumer Council (NCC) and consumer watchdog energywatch have come together to encourage the government to put fuel poverty at the forefront of its energy White Paper concerns.
Social tariffs - which were initially designed to ease the financial burden of gas and electricity bills - are actually costing some elderly and vulnerable members of society more than alternative price plans.
A recent documentary carried out by the NCC revealed that almost four million UK households struggle to afford to heat their homes adequately. The Council also believes that these families are paying up to 10% of their income on gas and electricity - almost three times the share of everyone else.
Chairman of the NCC, Lord Whitty, commented: "The government's 2010 target to end fuel poverty in the most vulnerable households is less than 3 years away. There are now three million vulnerable households in fuel poverty and recent cuts in fuel charges cannot, on their own, make that 2010 target achievable."
Adam Scorer, director of campaigns at energywatch welcomed the NCC's report, praising the document for bringing the plight of Britons who face financial difficulty with their energy bills to the forefront, as well as highlighting the need for a "coherent strategy to tackle fuel poverty".
"The energy white paper provides government with the last real opportunity to spell out actions to meet its own fuel poverty targets. While discounted 'social tariffs' are not a cure-all for fuel poverty, they are a necessary element of any strategic response," Mr Scorer added.
"energywatch is recommending that the forthcoming energy white paper includes a commitment that all suppliers should provide their most vulnerable customers with the cheapest tariffs," he concluded.
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