energywatch laments lack of immediacy in fuel poverty plan

energywatch described the Government's long-awaited response to the growing fuel poverty crisis as too little too late.

Allan Asher, energywatch Chief Executive, said: "The lack of political will to tackle fuel poverty is not just disappointing, it approaches negligence.

"While Government has now woken up to the scale of the challenge and is becoming alert to the need for some action; the sense of urgency is lacking. The elements that are sensible and welcome are sadly overshadowed by what is lacking."

On the energy efficiency measures Allan Asher said: "Improved energy efficiency is the long term solution to fuel poverty, but any new Government measures to increase the amount of funding for efficiency programmes must come with the cast iron assurance that it will not be added to consumers' bills.

"Currently, the CERT scheme is entirely funded by consumers, not Government nor industry. Every penny raised through CERT is a penny on consumers' bills. As it stands the scheme has inequality hard-wired into it. A single pensioner on pension credit receiving £124.05 per week will contribute the same amount as an energy company Chief Executive on a £1,000,000 salary.

"On the plus side, the restoration and increase to the Warm Front budget is welcome, and reverses an inexplicable decision to cut the government's own flagship fuel poverty scheme."

Allan Asher continued: "The Government has done little to bring immediate and much needed relief to consumers who will not afford the cost of keeping warm this winter.

"Frankly, to talk of action to help consumers keep warm this winter as a ‘one-off gesture' or a ‘token' reveals the paucity of thinking that has been applied to the problem."

Allan Asher concluded by calling for more action from Government: "It could deal with the obscenity of some prepayment meter charges being 60% higher than the same company's online tariffs.

"It could mandate social tariffs especially as there's growing speculation that some suppliers may be about to ditch them.

"It could extend the principle of winter fuel payments to the most vulnerable non-elderly fuel poor. Instead it has increased the value of a Cold Weather Payment that is hardly ever issued.

"Government has travelled some way to develop a decent fuel poverty strategy. But there's an awful long way to go, and it needs to get there quickly."