Fuel Poverty on the Rise, According to Charities

Posted under Blog by Ruth

A coalition of charity campaigners have stated that fuel poverty will continue to rise unless efforts are stepped up to make homes more eco friendly and energy efficient.

The group of charities do not believe that the current government strategy is doing enough, or that it will meet targets of ending fuel poverty by 2016.

The definition of fuel poverty is when more than 10 percent of a household’s income is being spent on heating the home. The government is putting in effort to help cut down on this problem, however this effort is being criticised by charities who are recommending more action to be taken to make things work.

The charities involved include Consumer Focus, Help the Aged and Age Concern. The charities are calling for £49 billion worth of investment over the next 7 years. The aim is to make even the most inefficient properties just as efficient as newly built properties.

According to the plans, some of this funding would come from existing schemes. The plans would also create a number of jobs, and help the government to meet their targets of carbon reduction.

The Watchdog, Consumer Focus, have stated that the number of people in fuel poverty in the UK could amount to 6.6 million, which is a dramatic increase from the number of 1.2 million in 2004.

However, Energy and Climate Change Minister David Kidney has stated that the government is already taking action through the Warm Front Scheme which carried out heating and insulation work, including double glazing and boiler upgrades, in thousands of properties.