Fuel Poverty Moves Do Little to Address Real Problem

 

The announcement today (Friday) by the UK Government and Ofgem on fuel poverty have been slated by SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson, Mike Weir MP, as doing “little to address the real problem of fuel poverty”.

 

Mr Weir said

 

“Another day and another disappointment from a Labour government that seem oblivious to the difficulties people living in fuel poverty face. 

 

“The only real change to come out of the much hyped fuel poverty summit is the pledge for the UK government to exchange information with the energy companies to identify those in fuel poverty. This is long overdue and welcome.

 

“Beyond that, the announcement does little to address the real problem of fuel poverty.

 

“The amount of money pledged by the big energy companies over three years is a pittance compared to their enormous profits, boosted in many cases by free credits under the European emission trading scheme.

 

“It is simply not good enough to propose that consumers be put on the best tariff their supplier has, since there is a substantial discrepancy between the different social tariffs offered by the various companies.

 

“Similarly it is highly unlikely that many of the fuel poor will benefit from switching since it is very difficult, if not impossible, to do so if you are on a pre-payment meter or already in debt to your existing supplier, as many are due to the rocketing price of fuel.”

 

Mr Weir, who has campaigned for help for those who use home fuel oil and bottled gas, was scathing about the failure to help this group, adding:

 

“Yet again the UK Government is only dealing with mains gas and electricity customers, and has totally failed to help the mainly rural consumers who use home fuel oil or bottled gas.

 

“They are the hidden face of fuel poverty and do not even get the limited help available to gas and electricity consumers.

 

“The present UK Government seem to neither appreciate nor care about their plight. Urgent action is needed to bring them within the system.”