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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Fuel bills deal being finalised | Fuel bills deal being finalised |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ministers are putting the finishing touches to a fuel poverty package - but without the windfall tax on energy companies demanded by the unions. | Ministers are putting the finishing touches to a fuel poverty package - but without the windfall tax on energy companies demanded by the unions. |
| More than 10 million households are expected to be offered help to cut bills through loft insulation, double glazing and other measures. | More than 10 million households are expected to be offered help to cut bills through loft insulation, double glazing and other measures. |
| Customers will also get help in finding the best gas and electricity tariffs. | Customers will also get help in finding the best gas and electricity tariffs. |
| The government says such measures are a more long-term solution to cutting bills than one-off payments. | The government says such measures are a more long-term solution to cutting bills than one-off payments. |
| It is understood that the energy companies will also make increased contributions to the government's carbon emissions reduction targets scheme. | It is understood that the energy companies will also make increased contributions to the government's carbon emissions reduction targets scheme. |
| Energy-saving measures in the home | |
| The £1bn package is expected to be unveiled on Thursday after weeks of negotiations with the energy companies. | The £1bn package is expected to be unveiled on Thursday after weeks of negotiations with the energy companies. |
| 'Crackpots' | 'Crackpots' |
| But it is likely to prompt fresh calls from the unions and many Labour MPs for a windfall tax on the energy companies' profits. | But it is likely to prompt fresh calls from the unions and many Labour MPs for a windfall tax on the energy companies' profits. |
| Without help with fuel bills now, we'll be lagging the coffins of the elderly if we have a cold winter Tony Woodley Joint General Secretary, Unite | Without help with fuel bills now, we'll be lagging the coffins of the elderly if we have a cold winter Tony Woodley Joint General Secretary, Unite |
| Tony Woodley, joint leader of Britain's biggest trade union, Unite, said people needed immediate relief from soaring prices. | Tony Woodley, joint leader of Britain's biggest trade union, Unite, said people needed immediate relief from soaring prices. |
| "This can't be addressed by lagging the loft as some crackpots around the prime minister have suggested," he told the TUC conference in Brighton on Tuesday. | "This can't be addressed by lagging the loft as some crackpots around the prime minister have suggested," he told the TUC conference in Brighton on Tuesday. |
| "Without help with fuel bills now, we'll be lagging the coffins of the elderly if we have a cold winter." | "Without help with fuel bills now, we'll be lagging the coffins of the elderly if we have a cold winter." |
| Mr Woodley claims the oil companies will make an extra £15bn out of the British public over the over the next four years. | Mr Woodley claims the oil companies will make an extra £15bn out of the British public over the over the next four years. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The fuel companies will sign up but they will drag their heals in implementing any change Fred Harris, Irchester Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The fuel companies will sign up but they will drag their heals in implementing any change Fred Harris, Irchester Send us your comments |
| But Chancellor Alistair Darling cautioned against a windfall tax, saying the government's ambitions to invest in green energy and alternatives to oil and gas depended on "continuous investment over many years" from the power companies. | But Chancellor Alistair Darling cautioned against a windfall tax, saying the government's ambitions to invest in green energy and alternatives to oil and gas depended on "continuous investment over many years" from the power companies. |
| He told TUC delegates: "We have to strike a balance between long-term investment and helping people, particularly people really feeling the squeeze as a result of gas and electricity prices." | He told TUC delegates: "We have to strike a balance between long-term investment and helping people, particularly people really feeling the squeeze as a result of gas and electricity prices." |
| Warmer reception | Warmer reception |
| The TUC has backed a motion criticising energy companies and urging the government to impose a windfall tax. | The TUC has backed a motion criticising energy companies and urging the government to impose a windfall tax. |
| It criticised the "big six" energy firms for making £1.6bn last year and raising prices by 42% this year. | It criticised the "big six" energy firms for making £1.6bn last year and raising prices by 42% this year. |
| A report published on Monday suggested almost a quarter of the population will be pushed into fuel poverty by the end of next year. | A report published on Monday suggested almost a quarter of the population will be pushed into fuel poverty by the end of next year. |
| The National Housing Federation said by the end of 2009, 5.7 million UK households will be spending at least 10% of their income on energy bills. | The National Housing Federation said by the end of 2009, 5.7 million UK households will be spending at least 10% of their income on energy bills. |
| Average household electricity bills are expected to increase to more than £500 per year by 2010, and gas bills to around £900. | Average household electricity bills are expected to increase to more than £500 per year by 2010, and gas bills to around £900. |
| ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES 1. Loft insulation: Prevents 15% of heat lost through the roof. 2. Tank and pipe insulation: A hot water cyclinder jacket of at least 75mm cuts heat loss by 75%. 3. Cavity/solid wall insulation: About 30% of heat lost through walls. Homes built after 1920 - with cavity walls - can be injected with insulating material. Older houses with solid walls can be fitted with an extra layer.4. Double-glazing: Can cut heat loss by about 50%. The two panes of glass trap air between them which acts as an insulating barrier. 5. Draught-proofing: About 20% of heat lost through poor ventilation and draughts. Measures include fitting brushes to letterboxes. Source: Energy Saving Trust | |
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