Government's Energy White Paper faces criticism

16/07/2009

The government should go further in protecting the millions of Britons suffering from fuel poverty, Consumer Focus has said.

According to the group, ministers need to unveil a "comprehensive package of measures" to deal with the problem, which comes about when a household spends over ten per cent of income on gas and electricity.

Consumer Focus made the comments in the wake of the government's Energy White Paper announcement.

New plans for compulsory social tariffs offering vulnerable customers help with bills, the national roll-out of smart meters and proposals for increasing the use of renewable energy sources were all contained in the document.

However, ministers have already admitted that energy bills will need to rise by around six per cent per household in order to pay for these "green" measures.

Jonathan Stearn, energy expert for Consumer Focus, commented: "It is welcome news that the government has listened to the calls from Consumer Focus and others for mandatory social tariffs. These plans need to be developed to prevent hundreds of thousands more vulnerable households being plunged into fuel poverty by price rises to fund these plans.

"If the government is to show it hasn't got cold feet on its promise to end fuel poverty, it still needs a comprehensive new strategy with strong action on energy efficiency for fuel poor homes, social tariffs for all who need them and the ending of unfair energy pricing."

Tags; Housing Debt and Bills, Retirement Money Problems, Credit Card Lifestyle,

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