Council takes step to cut fuel bills

Herefordshire Council is taking a practical step to help people cope with the rising costs of heating their homes.

It is offering all people in the county over 60 years of age £500 towards insulation and heating controls.

The news comes in response to energy company Npower, the UK’s fourth largest energy provider, which last week announced increases in prices for domestic customers.

Average rises were 12.7 per cent for electricity and 17.2 per cent for gas.

Based on the average Npower increases for electricity and gas, this means its average dual-fuel customer will now pay more than £1,000 per year.

Councillor Olwyn Barnett, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member social care (adults and health), said: “These price rises will have a big impact on Herefordshire residents who will be burdened with higher fuel bills.

“In the Midlands area, there is a 10.4 per cent electricity rise and 17.6 per cent gas increase for Npower customers and it is likely other energy suppliers will follow suit.

“For many people, particularly the vulnerable, price hikes mean very real decisions between choosing to heat their home or doing without other essentials.”

She added: “We don’t want anyone to be cold in their homes and this £500 payment will help those most in need ensure their homes are as energy efficient as possible.

“It can go towards insulation which prevents warmth from escaping through walls and roofs or could be used to make sure heating controls are working efficiently and homes get to the right temperature.”

The £500 is payable through the Special Energy Efficiency Scheme (SEES) and all county residents in receipt of an income or disability benefit can also qualify for assistance.

Herefordshire Council has recently launched its Affordable Warmth Strategy with the aim of reducing fuel poverty in Herefordshire.

There were an estimated 8,540 (10.7 per cent) of homes in Herefordshire in fuel poverty in 2005 (based on a House Condition Survey 2005).

The definition of fuel poverty is where a household has to spend 10 per cent or more of their income on energy.

A special adviser for Help the Aged said that a one per cent rise in fuel bills plunges about 40,000 people into fuel poverty nationally.

Everyone in the county can limit the cost of higher bills by ensuring that their homes are as energy efficient as possible.