Hundreds of thousands of households are living in "fuel poverty" because of soaring energy costs, campaigners have warned.

As the nights are drawing in and we are starting to turn to central heating to warm us in those long cold winter nights there are many families and individuals out there that are unable to heat the homes they live in.

A household is classed as being in fuel poverty if it has to spend more than 10 per cent of its income to maintain satisfactory heating.  Fuel poor families are being given further support this year as the energy regulator energywatch, and the children’s charities Barnardo’s and Save the Children join forces.

www.barnardos.org.uk

www.savethechildren.org.uk

These agencies have sighted soaring fuel prices in recent years as the reason for the fuel poverty in the UK doubling in the same amount of time. There is particular concern as the thought of further energy price rises continue to threaten this winter.

As winter approaches, they are calling for the introduction of "social tariffs" in the Energy Bill, a move that would require energy firms to help ease the burden on consumers who cannot pay greatly increased heating costs.

So far, campaigners say, voluntary efforts by companies have been insufficient.

"The combined voluntary efforts of the industry nowhere near address the impact that high prices have had on the fuel-poor," they said.

Consumers were "stuck in a lottery", they added, "with the amount of support on offer wholly dependent on an individual supplier's commitment."

This is not a beneficial situation for many and something that both energywatch and Barnardo’s feel the government should take a more determined step, and that socially-oriented energy tariffs should be given a pivotal role in the upcoming Energy Bill.

Director of Campaigns at energywatch, Adam Scorer, said: "There is a danger of the Government getting carried away by Ofgem's innate optimism that the competitive energy market will deliver for the fuel poor. Regardless of further price rises, hard-pressed consumers should be able to take comfort from knowing that there is a minimum standard of help available, regardless of the supplier they are with.”

Graham Kerr, of energywatch Scotland, said: "Hard-pressed consumers should be able to take comfort from knowing that there is a minimum standard of help available."

"Only by introducing the power to require suppliers to offer social tariffs in accordance with minimum standards will government ensure that all suppliers play their part fully."

Claire Telfer, of Save the Children, added: "Another winter is approaching and far too many children are living in cold, damp homes. The consequences of living in fuel poverty are misery, discomfort, ill health and debt."

Barnardo's Assistant Director, Policy, Neera Sharma said: "It is morally outrageous that in the fifth richest country in the world parents have to decide between 'eating' or 'heating'".

"Families without access to the internet or a bank just cannot participate in a competitive market with ever-rising prices and this is reflected in the increase in pre-payment meters to recover debt which stood at 334,000 in 2006."

"We fully support energywatch's call for mandatory social tariffs."

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Sources: http://news.scotsman.com | http://www.savethechildren.org.uk | http://www.barnardos.org.uk

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