Government's measures to help those in fuel poverty

Commenting on the Government's measures to help households in fuel poverty, Scott Byrom, utilities manager at price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, said: "With only 0.11 per cent of the UK's energy giants turnover spent on social tariffs and helping those in the poorest households, it is high time more is done to help the most vulnerable customers.

"We welcome any extra help offered to tackle this issue but do these measures go far enough to help the majority of those who face fuel poverty? With the cost of gas and electricity on the rise, action needs to be taken now to prevent the number of people in fuel poverty escalating.

"At present, social tariffs, aimed at the four million British households in fuel poverty, wildly vary between the energy providers and don't always seem to offer the best value with better deals found online. This needs to be addressed first and foremost to ensure immediate help is given to those who need it most.

"Vulnerable customers struggling to pay their energy bills need to be proactive and contact their energy supplier to see what options are available with regards to reducing their energy bills. Likewise, energy suppliers need to ensure adequate support is readily available and help is delivered efficiently."