NHF predicts fuel poverty rise

08/09/2008

One in four Britons might be pushed in to fuel poverty by the end of 2009, it has been suggested.

According to the National Housing Federation (NHF), 5.7 million households will be using ten per cent or more of their income on gas and electricity, the common definition of fuel poverty.

A rise of energy bills to £1,300 a year, with gas costing £900 and electricity £500, is the main reason for the trend, the new report added.

Earlier this year, most of Britain's gas and electricity providers imposed double-digit price rises on customers, with British Gas putting some tariffs up by 35 per cent.

Ruth Davison at the NHF commented: "The government needs to grasp the nettle and take strong and radical action to protect the nation's energy customers.

"Britain is virtually unique in Europe in that our energy suppliers have been privatised and deregulated. The promise at the time of deregulation was that prices would fall. This has palpably not happened. It is time for ministers to regulate the market."

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills, Young Family Finances, Recent Graduate Debt,

• Share
• 
• 
• Store
• 
• Follow
•