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Fuel poverty: new measures announced

The Government has today announced new measures to help elderly and vulnerable consumers make their homes warmer and more energy efficient.

The measures aim to assist poorer consumers to cut bills for the long term by improving energy efficiency and helping those who need the help most to be easily identified.

To help with bills and make sure consumers are on the best value tariff, the new measures include:

  • seek changes in the law to allow data-sharing with energy suppliers; and
  • a pilot scheme, trialled by 3,000 households, to make sure people applying for Warm Front grants are referred to their energy supplier for tariff advice so that they can make maximum savings; and
  • £150,000 to fund a roll-out of Ofgem’s national Citizens Advice Bureau awareness campaign on social assistance for the vulnerable.

To help improve energy efficiency in the long term, which can cut bills, the new measures include:

  • £3 million as part of a pilot project within the low carbon buildings programme to introduce fuel saving microgeneration to fuel poor communities;
  • the publication of the results of the heat call for evidence. The call for evidence will help the Government develop a heat strategy and measures to reduce demand for heat. This will help reduce heating bills in fuel poor communities. There will be a formal consultation on the Heat Strategy in Autumn.

Environment Minister, Phil Woolas said:

“Household bills are rising and purse strings are tightening. Encouraging energy efficiency is crucial because it really does cut costs – especially for those who can least afford energy price hikes.

“These new measures will make homes across the country more energy efficient and give people at risk of fuel poverty a boost where they need it most. Fuel poverty isn’t just a winter issue – it’s about working all year round to improve the homes of some of the most vulnerable people in this country, and that’s something the Government is determined to do.”

Further information

Page published: 30 May 2008