Fuel poverty set to rise.

by in Andy`s Journal Archive | Permalink

Fuel poverty in England is likely to worsen, despite measures to try to eradicate it, a government-commissioned report has warned. Whilst campaigners have called for more money to be invested in cutting bills. almost 3,000 people died each year from problems linked to fuel poverty such as respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

  • 7.8m people could not afford their energy bills in 2009,
  • This is due to rise to 8.5m by 2016,
  • 2.7 million households more than previously thought,
  • Fuel poverty has been linked to 2,700 deaths a year.

The fuel poverty gap shows the amount by which bills would need to be cut, in order for fuel-poverty households to be able to afford to heat their homes.The report found that in 2009, this figure was £414 per household. By 2016, the report warns, it may be £600.Campaigners have welcomed the report and also called for a programme of home insulation.

The old way to measure fuel poverty focused on households spending 10%of their income on bills, four million households were in fuel poverty but with 7.6 million inhabitants.

“The time has come for the government to step up and invest to help the fuel-poor households through a major expenditure and an extensive insulation programme,” said Michelle Mitchell, director general at Age UK.

“The number of fuel poor households helped by government-backed schemes is likely to more than halve over the next three years, despite fuel poverty levels having almost tripled in five years” Derek LickorishFuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG)  Continue reading the main story courtesy of BBC news.

Ffeirio Says! More must be done to ensure that the most vulnerable in society are able to keep themselves both warm and safe. what I would like to see is the introduction of a discounted tariff that can be claimed by the 7.8m people cannot afford their energy bills.

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