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Energy companies resist changes which could save lives
Four big energy companies are refusing to voluntarily take part in a Government scheme to help people experiencing fuel poverty.
Fiel poverty kills people, while energy companies make astronomical profits
As fuel prices rise steeply, more and more people are likely to experience fuel poverty. Being unable to pay to heat their homes already causes the deaths of 25,000 to 30,000 older people every year.
The Government has proposed to tackle fuel poverty by a levy of £150 million on the energy industry for carbon permits under the European emissions trading scheme over the next five years. This £750 million would be combined with £225m that the energy companies have promised for energy efficiency schemes after the Budget, and extra money to publicise fuel-saving schemes, giving a total of £ billion.
This would pay for a one-off reduction in electricity bills this winter of up to £100 for those in most need, after two rounds of energy bill increases from the main energy suppliers this year.
Centrica – which owns British Gas – and Scottish and Southern Energy have given their agreements in principle. But Npower, Eon, EDF, and Scottish Power have refused to sign up.
