Latest Debt News
People in fuel poverty helped by Ofgem
30/05/2008 17:51:00
People who are struggling to pay their fuel bills will be given help under a new plan launched by Ofgem today.
The energy regulator has revealed its plan to help the 2.5 million people in fuel poverty in the UK, which will include checking if people are on the correct tariff.
A pilot scheme will assess whether 3,000 homes applying for the Warm Front grants are on the cheapest tariff and whether money can be saved in this way.
The charity Help the Aged has said the moves are not enough and with every one per cent increase in prices comes an additional 40,000 in fuel poverty.
Kate Jopling from the organisation said: "We cannot use a sticking plaster to hold back a catastrophe. We cannot use these small-scale measures when we're facing a growing tide of fuel poverty."
Alistair Darling has defended the plans, saying an agreement with power companies had been formed meaning people can be on lower tariffs and given help insulating their home.
© Adfero Ltd