Fuel Bill Help Urgently Needed Due to Gas/Electricity Bills Rise

 

Government help for fuel bills has been demanded by consumer groups and charities following yet further announcements from two more leading energy providers explaining the increase in fuel prices for their customers. This almost ends a record round of fuel price increases – with another round due in the New Year.

Long Term Fuel Poverty Plan Needed Say Charities

Scottish Power and Npower have joined British Gas, EON, Scottish and Southern Energy and EDF by rising their prices substantially, and now charities campaigning against fuel poverty (those who spend more than 10% of their income on fuel) are worried that without a long term plan, the problem of fuel poverty will reach unmanageable proportions as the provision of help for fuel bills is ignored.

According to charity National Energy Action, 1 in 5 households will fall into the 10% of fuel poor, and together with Child Poverty Action and Age Concern, the charities are demanding immediate action from the UK Government.

UK Government ‘Looking at Extra Support’

John Hutton, the Government’s Business Secretary said this week in an interview for the Daily Telegraph that:

“The era of cheap energy is over. The question is how are we going to adjust to that and what sort of help can we provide to those who are going to struggle the most. There is genuine concern about the difficulties that people will face paying their heating bills over the coming winter and we are looking at extra support.”

This seems to have done little to reassure the charities campaigning for those needing help for fuel bills. In The Guardian today, Paul Dornan from Child Poverty Action said:

“The poorest families now face an urgent situation … The voluntary approach is failing and Government and the energy companies need a plan of action within weeks.”

What Help for Fuel Bills is Available Right Now?

Finding help for fuel bills is clearly a very important issue, and so here are previous Payplan Debt News articles discussing this issue and offering further advice to those who require fuel debt assistance:

The BBC website also contains useful information to those needing help for fuel bills: