- One in four face fuel poverty, says Consumer Focus, December 2, 2011, BBC News: “The proportion of homes in fuel poverty in England and Wales has risen from 18% to 24% in two years, estimates suggest. Consumer Focus calculated that nearly 5.7 million households are in fuel poverty – when more than 10% of their disposable income is spent on fuel. The watchdog said the issue was particularly acute in Wales, where 41% of households were in fuel poverty…”
- One in four households suffer from fuel poverty, By Donna Bowater and James Kirkup, December 2, 2011, The Telegraph: “New calculations by Consumer Focus show more than five million households are now forced to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on heating and lighting their homes. The previous forecast of 4.1 million households was made before the big six energy suppliers increased huge price rises last summer. The figure has risen 25 per cent from last year when a fifth of homes were struggling with fuel poverty after sharp increases in energy bills in the autumn. It means the Government is unlikely to meet its legal obligation to end fuel poverty within five years…”
Tag: Fuel poverty
Fuel Poverty – UK
Fuel poverty ‘will claim 2,700 victims this winter’, By Mark King, October 19, 2011, The Guardian: “Almost 3,000 people in England and Wales will die this winter because they cannot afford to heat their homes, a report suggests – more than the number killed in traffic accidents each year. Commissioned by the government, the Hills Fuel Poverty Review found that if just 10% of UK winter deaths are caused by fuel poverty – a conservative estimate it claims – 2,700 people will perish as a direct result of being fuel poor. The report also found that between 2004 and 2009 the ‘fuel poverty gap’ (the extra amount those with badly insulated homes and poor heating systems would need to spend to keep warm) increased by 50% to £1.1bn as a result of rising fuel prices…”
Fuel Poverty – United Kingdom
- Fears energy price rises will put more Cumbrians in fuel poverty, July, 25, 2011, News & Stars: “Ruth Willis fears the latest energy bills blow could not have come at a worse time. Parts of Cumbria are already dogged by so-called fuel poverty as families struggle to pay gas and electricity bills. And new rises come as the aftermath of the recession continues to bite and people grapple with the tight financial times. Ms Willis, chief executive of Action with Communities in Cumbria, believes the increases are unreasonable and is clear about what they could mean for some…”
- Fuel poverty warning issued, July 26, 2011, Berwick Advertiser: “The number of people living in fuel poverty in the region could rocket, according to a Northumberland-based debt advice service. Government figures, published earlier this month, revealed that more than 20 per cent of households – around 5.5 million – were spending more than 10 per cent of their annual income on keeping warm in 2009. However, already-high utility prices are set to soar after British Gas and Scottish Power announced forthcoming price hikes, with most energy suppliers expected to follow suit…”