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| Ministers plan help for fuel poor | Ministers plan help for fuel poor |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Plans to help elderly and vulnerable people pay their fuel bills are due to be announced by the government. | Plans to help elderly and vulnerable people pay their fuel bills are due to be announced by the government. |
| New powers to share data are being planned so energy firms and the government can advise on the best value tariffs for gas and electricity. | New powers to share data are being planned so energy firms and the government can advise on the best value tariffs for gas and electricity. |
| Ministers hope the measures will help alleviate the "fuel poverty" suffered by people on low incomes. | |
| But campaigners say the plans do not go far enough, and that poorer families will continue to face a fuel crisis. | But campaigners say the plans do not go far enough, and that poorer families will continue to face a fuel crisis. |
| Steep rises | Steep rises |
| An estimated 2.3 million households are in fuel poverty - defined when more than 10% of household income is spent on fuel bills. | An estimated 2.3 million households are in fuel poverty - defined when more than 10% of household income is spent on fuel bills. |
| Concern for those on low incomes is growing since energy suppliers announced steep rises in the price of gas and electricity. All the major suppliers announced double-digit increases in early 2008, and more rises are expected by the end of the year. | Concern for those on low incomes is growing since energy suppliers announced steep rises in the price of gas and electricity. All the major suppliers announced double-digit increases in early 2008, and more rises are expected by the end of the year. |
| The new fuel poverty measures announced today won't fix the problem - people will still be left out in the cold Ed Matthew, Friends of the Earth | The new fuel poverty measures announced today won't fix the problem - people will still be left out in the cold Ed Matthew, Friends of the Earth |
| Most of the energy companies have so-called "social tariffs", and ministers are proposing that data identifying poorer families could be shared with the companies to ensure they pay the cheaper rates. | Most of the energy companies have so-called "social tariffs", and ministers are proposing that data identifying poorer families could be shared with the companies to ensure they pay the cheaper rates. |
| Age Concern director general Gordon Lishman said that the sharing of data was "controversial, but justified." | Age Concern director general Gordon Lishman said that the sharing of data was "controversial, but justified." |
| He added: "We feel strongly that the severe pressure of rapidly rising energy prices justifies this kind of action, providing the data is handled by a trusted third party and people are fully informed about the scheme and given the option to opt out." | He added: "We feel strongly that the severe pressure of rapidly rising energy prices justifies this kind of action, providing the data is handled by a trusted third party and people are fully informed about the scheme and given the option to opt out." |
| Radical measures | Radical measures |
| The charity estimates that 250,000 pensioners were pushed into fuel poverty by price rises earlier this year and has called for "radical new measures". | The charity estimates that 250,000 pensioners were pushed into fuel poverty by price rises earlier this year and has called for "radical new measures". |
| An extra £3m is also being offered to encourage householders who want to generate their own power through wind turbines and solar panels. | An extra £3m is also being offered to encourage householders who want to generate their own power through wind turbines and solar panels. |
| Ministers also want existing government programmes which help with energy efficiency to make sure people are aware of the help that is on offer. | Ministers also want existing government programmes which help with energy efficiency to make sure people are aware of the help that is on offer. |
| The announcements follow an agreement last month which should see the energy companies putting an extra £225m towards tackling fuel poverty over the next three years. | The announcements follow an agreement last month which should see the energy companies putting an extra £225m towards tackling fuel poverty over the next three years. |
| Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said it was important to provide "sustainable solutions" for the elderly, disabled people, and young families at risk from fuel poverty. | Energy minister Malcolm Wicks said it was important to provide "sustainable solutions" for the elderly, disabled people, and young families at risk from fuel poverty. |
| Fuel crisis | Fuel crisis |
| But the measures have not satisfied some charities and campaigners for fuel efficiency. | But the measures have not satisfied some charities and campaigners for fuel efficiency. |
| The National Housing Federation called for pre-payment meter charges - typically more than £100 higher than the average annual bill paid by direct debit - should be brought in line with standard rates. | The National Housing Federation called for pre-payment meter charges - typically more than £100 higher than the average annual bill paid by direct debit - should be brought in line with standard rates. |
| Kate Jopling, of Help the Aged, said: "While it is welcome news that the government is moving in the right direction on fuel poverty, this initiative does not go nearly far enough to deal with the looming fuel poverty crisis." | Kate Jopling, of Help the Aged, said: "While it is welcome news that the government is moving in the right direction on fuel poverty, this initiative does not go nearly far enough to deal with the looming fuel poverty crisis." |
| Ed Matthew of Friends of the Earth said: "The new fuel poverty measures announced today won't fix the problem - people will still be left out in the cold. | Ed Matthew of Friends of the Earth said: "The new fuel poverty measures announced today won't fix the problem - people will still be left out in the cold. |
| "The only way to warm up our four million fuel poor homes is to super-insulate them and help them produce their own energy. " | "The only way to warm up our four million fuel poor homes is to super-insulate them and help them produce their own energy. " |