IMN Content - Lifestyle and Consumer Content

Fuel Poverty Hits 4.75million As Winter Energy Price Hikes Announced

Alarms have been raised today over potentially dangerous fuel poverty levels as energy price hikes are announced
Lifestyle - 17 October 2012   Download IconContent available for download:  
Sorry, no content is available at this time, please check back later.
  News Hooks:

As Britain’s biggest energy supplier announces average price hikes of £80 a year, one leading support charity reveals almost half of people on low incomes (45%) aren’t getting the support they may be entitled to, despite 4.75 million UK households suffering fuel poverty.

Serious concerns have been raised today following revelations that over two-thirds (70%) of those most eligible for support are unaware that energy suppliers have to offer cheaper ‘social tariffs’ to their most vulnerable customers.

In light of the effects of last winter’s fuel bills - causing over two-fifths (44%) to feel stressed and nearly one in seven (14%) to suffer illness or physical pain as a result of cold conditions, worries that these ‘unwelcome’ increases will make the problem worse have amplified.

Today marks the second annual release of a ‘fuel poverty map’, giving an overview of the situation up and down the country and highlighting areas where any obliviousness surrounding support urgently needs to be tackled.

. Introduction:

As fuel poverty levels are expected to rise and people come to terms with announcements of a 6% energy price hike, it’s revealed today that almost half of those who could be receiving financial help, aren’t. And with last winter’s fuel bills causing stress and even physical illness, concerns have increased over Britain’s lack of awareness when it comes to the support that’s available.

So as the second annual release of a ‘fuel poverty map’ gives an overview of the situation up and down the country, how can those who are worried cope with such an ‘unwelcome’ increase?

Joining us to discuss this further is Rob Tolan, Head of Policy and Research at Turn2us, part of national financial support charity Elizabeth Finn Care.