Support needed to help households with energy price hikes

As the weather begins to bite, the government could immediately help 1.6 million households cope with this year's unprecedented rises in energy prices through extending the use of winter fuel payments, Consumer Focus, the new independent champion for consumers, said today.

The call comes as the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee today announced that it is to re-open its inquiry into energy efficiency and fuel poverty. The Committee has also released a special report comprising written evidence received as part of that inquiry.

Consumer Focus's predecessor organisation made a series of urgent and long-term recommendations to the inquiry aimed at helping British families save energy and stay out of the fuel poverty trap. Immediate actions included:

The government needs to provide financial assistance, this winter, to low income energy consumers who currently receive no form of winter fuel assistance. Winter fuel payments should be extended to those already identified by the government as vulnerable to the cold. 1.6 million households would benefit from such a measure at an estimated cost of £320m.

There are some 5.5 million households living in fuel poverty. The Government must mandate suppliers to provide vulnerable and fuel poor consumers with the lowest possible energy tariffs.

Longer term recommendations aimed at: improving energy efficiency in homes; fair energy pricing that stops the poor paying more; and ensuring that the national roll-out of smart meters benefits consumers.

Consumer Focus energy expert Jonathan Stearn welcomed news that the Select Committee inquiry would be re-opened, though called for urgent support for families dealing with energy price hikes.

"Millions of households are particularly vulnerable to the cold. With winter rapidly approaching, urgent relief is needed to help these households deal with this year's unprecedented rise in fuel prices.

"The Government must act to ensure the eradication of fuel poverty doesn't end up on the back burner."