Watchdog slams "disgraceful" fuel bills

19/03/2009

An industry watchdog revealed yesterday that 44 per cent of the population are cutting back on essential costs so that they can pay their fuel bills.

Two separate rounds of price hikes from gas and electricity suppliers in 2008 led to 72 per cent of poorer households facing higher-than-expected costs.

Since the beginning of the year, all of Britain's "big six" energy providers have announced cuts to customer bills, due to falling wholesale prices.

However, 59 per cent of poll respondents told Consumer Focus that these reductions would make "little or no difference".

Commenting on the survey, Jonathan Stearn, Consumer Focus energy expert, said: "It is disgraceful that huge winter energy bills are causing such misery for so many of the most vulnerable families, pensioners and disabled people.

"Recent meagre energy price cuts will barely dent fuel poverty levels."

Consumer Focus also called for the Fuel Poverty Bill, to be voted on in parliament tomorrow, to be passed.

The new legislation aims to make British households more energy efficient - cutting household gas and electricity costs as a consequence.

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills, Retirement Money Problems, Recent Graduate Debt,

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