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Fuel poor 'being hit by cost of green initiatives'
12/07/10
Edited by Andy Jowett. The cost of investing in energy infrastructure and measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions is being "largely, if not wholly" passed on to customers and is having a disproportionate impact on low income households, a new report has warned.
According to the government's Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, utility bills could rise by another 50 per cent on top of a 125 per cent increase over the past six years thanks to these schemes.
It called on ministers to ensure that utility companies' energy efficiency programmes prioritise the 4.6 million residential property owners classed as being in fuel poverty and for the Warm Front initiative - which provides grants for green home improvements like installing insulation - to be retained until a successor has been developed.
The group also recommended that more of the funds raised through environmental charges included in energy bills be used to tackle fuel poverty.
Chairman Derek Lickorish said: "Moves to make England greener shouldn't push the poorest households into the red."
According to uSwitch.com, around seven per cent - or £84 - of the typical annual fuel bill is made up of "hidden" taxes to tackle climate change.
