Ofgem calls on energy suppliers to slash hiked prices
19/12/2008
As the price of crude oil falls but household energy bills don't, energy regulator Ofgem has called for speedier action from suppliers to slash unfair pricing from energy bills. And not a moment too soon for the millions on fixed or falling incomes who cannot afford to keep warm during what has now officially been recognised as the "coldest start to winter in 30 years".
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Home Heat Helpline launched to help cut energy bills
Actor Richard Wilson and Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson have launched this winter’s Home Heat Helpline campaign to provide free home insulation for elderly, disabled and single parents this winter.
Thousands still dying from the cold in 21st century Britain
New figures show that 25,300 older people died last winter as a result of cold related illnesses - underlining the genuine misery faced by many hard-pressed pensioners. Since Labour took power in 1997, over a quarter of a million pensioners have now lost their lives this way - equivalent to the entire population of a city the size of Newcastle, Nottingham or Plymouth.
Urgent support needed to help households cope with energy price hikes
As the weather begins to bite, the government could immediately help 1.6 million households cope with this year’s unprecedented rises in energy prices through extending the use of winter fuel payments, Consumer Focus, the new independent champion for consumers, said today.
Fuel poverty - Government wins legal argument, but not moral one
The High Court has ruled that the Government has not broken the law by failing to keep homes warm, despite allowing the number of households in fuel poverty to reach the highest level in ten years.
Energy - crisis action needed
Britain’s leading campaigners for older people are warning that millions face a heating crisis this winter unless radical action is taken.
One organisation is demanding that some of the billions of pounds of additional revenue now coming into the Government’s coffers through rising energy prices are allocated to stop people falling further into debt this winter or, worse, suffer hypothermia.
Government faces day in court over fuel poverty failure
This coming Monday (6 October) will see the Government in Court defending its failed strategy on eradicting fuel poverty.
British Gas pile on the pain with 35% price hike
Consumers have been dealt another hammer blow today as British Gas, Britain’s biggest energy supplier, announces its second price increase in six months. The increase – 35% for gas and for electricity - comes into effect today. The price hikes could trigger more rises from other suppliers and push millions more households into fuel poverty.
Hope on horizon for those on social energy tariffs
The energy regulator Ofgem has told energy companies that social tariffs for their poorest customers - defined as those spending more than a tenth of their income on energy - must match the cheapest deals on offer, including online deals. The aim is to ensure that those who struggle most to pay their energy bills, such as pensioners, will be assured of being on the best deal in their area.
More fuel pain on the way
As EDF brings in swingeing increases in gas and electricity prices, pensioner campaigning organisations are warning of the dire impact this will have on millions already living in fuel poverty.
Energy price rises "will push another 1.6m pensioners into fuel poverty"
Cash strapped Brits could face an average total energy bill increase of £555 this year, and Britain's biggest older people's organisation, the National Pensioners Convention, has claimed that the threat that energy bills may rise later in the year by 40% will push another 1.6m older people into fuel poverty.
Initiatives for fuel poor deeply disappointing, says energywatch
"A missed opportunity" is how energywatch is describing the latest plans by Government and energy regulator Ofgem to assist the fuel poor.
Bristol project to keep out the cold
Thousands of Bristolians living in miserably cold homes will breathe a sigh of relief that winter is coming to an end. Before this year’s energy price rises, 10,178 Bristol households were thought to live in fuel poverty and that number has increased significantly since then. Warming Bristol, a local help service run by the Bristol & Somerset Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, has been lending a hand to those in need.
Government being sued - for failing to tackle fuel poverty
Grey and green pressure groups are mounting a remarkable attack on the Government’s continuing failure to eradicate fuel poverty – by suing them.
Government's fuel poverty strategy branded a "disaster"
Help the Aged has branded the Government’s fuel poverty strategy "a social disaster", with the number of households in fuel poverty set to reach the highest level in over a decade.
