Urgent action required to prevent fuel poverty escalation
Urgent action is required to avert escalating fuel poverty levels, a government group has claimed.
The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG) has called for vital government action to tackle fuel poverty.
In a report published today it warns that without radical action many more households will be pushed into fuel poverty as a result of essential investment in climate change prevention measures, growing unemployment and potentially escalating energy prices.
The FPAG has said the government needs to set out a clear plan on how it will meet its target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016.
Fuel poverty levels today are more than triple what they were five years ago, and FPAG has predicted they will continue to rise as current measures are inadequate to deal with the scale of the problem.
Derek Lickorish, chairman of the group, said: 'Energy prices are going to become even more of an issue as the cost of tackling carbon emissions grows, unemployment rises and the energy market remains volatile.
'The measures in place to deal with fuel poverty now are simply inadequate to tackle the rise in fuel poverty that this cocktail of issues could create.
'Unless fuel poverty is tackled head on, many hundreds of thousands more vulnerable pensioners, families and disabled people will struggle to afford their energy bills. A thorough strategy, with decisive action on social tariffs and energy efficiency, is needed from the Government to help lift the poorest households out of fuel poverty.'
FPAG has called for substantial extra help to protect low income households from fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency levels.
Unfair differences in pricing, particularly for prepayment meter customers, are also seen as key to ensuring the poorest customers pay a fair price for their energy.
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