uSwitch.com: Government's fuel poverty initiative

The Government has announced that energy companies have agreed to spend £225 million over 3 years to help people in fuel poverty, which could lift 100,000 households out of the fuel poverty trap.

Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: "This is welcome, but falls well short of the 500,000 additional households plunged into fuel poverty by the 15% increase to household energy bills this year. If it was spread across the whole 4.5 million households in fuel poverty it would amount to less than £18 a year, which is a drop in the ocean when consumers are facing average fuel bills of £1,048 a year.

"This is the clearest evidence yet that those in fuel poverty cannot expect the Government to lend them a helping hand out of the trap - this puts greater emphasis back on households to help themselves. I would urge those facing fuel poverty to speak directly to their supplier about the help available to them, adopt energy efficiency measures and make sure they are on the cheapest available energy plan."