6 October 2008
Two charities have launched a legal challenge against the government, claiming it is not doing enough to tackle soaring gas and electricity bills. Help the Aged and Friends of the Earth are taking the government to court over the issue in the hope that a judge will order ministers to stand by their promise of ending fuel poverty by 2016. "The government is letting people down by failing on its legal commitment to end the suffering of fuel poverty," said Andy Atkins, executive director of Friends of the Earth. The high court judicial review will last two days and a judgement is expected in six weeks. A survey commissioned by the charities revealed that 73% of elderly people believe the government is not doing enough to help them meet rising gas and electricity costs. According to recent research from uSwitch.com, 5.4 million households are now in fuel poverty, spending 10% or more of their net income on energy.