Campaigners call for end to fuel poverty 'scandal'

A coalition of campaigners will call today for an end to the "scandal" of fuel poverty.

A charter drawn up by anti-poverty, energy, environmental and health groups calls on the Government and political parties to commit to making all "fuel poor" homes as energy-efficient as a home built today.

They warn the Government that it will fail to meet its target to end fuel poverty by 2016 under its current strategy, saying numbers could increase to a record high.

The coalition, including Age Concern and Help the Aged, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Child Poverty Action Group and Consumer Focus, said many of the estimated 6.6 million UK households struggling to afford to heat and power were risking their health by cutting back on heating or other essentials.

Consumer Focus energy expert Jonathan Stearn said: "It should be a right, not a privilege, for everybody to have a warm, dry home that they can afford to heat.

"The main political parties have all exchanged rhetoric on the importance of ending fuel poverty but what we need now is concerted action. Any political party serious about ending the hardship millions of fuel poor households are facing must commit to make fuel poor homes as energy efficient as those built today."

The coalition said it was worried about the "confusing and uncoordinated" range of energy efficiency schemes and a lack of measurable targets.

It said many more vulnerable people would be pushed in to fuel poverty unless an improved national energy efficiency scheme was introduced.

A commitment to making homes as energy efficient as a house built today could reduce energy bills by up to 70% and cut carbon emissions by as much as 59%, the group said.

Such a scheme would need significant investment but would lift millions of the poorest households out of fuel poverty, dramatically cut CO2 emissions, create more than 35,000 jobs and put more than £6 billion back into the economy.

The charter calls on the Government to take account of high energy prices in benefits, pension and tax credits with efforts made to make sure all those eligible claim their entitlements.

Coalition member Macmillan Cancer Support said one in five cancer patients undergoing treatment was living in fuel poverty.

Spokesman Mike Hobday said: "People tell us they feel colder due to the effects of cancer treatment. They turn the heating up and then receive higher fuel bills, often when their household income has dropped because they cannot work.

"Fuel poverty is a huge strain financially, physically and emotionally so we're pleased to be part of this coalition to bring about change."

Energy and Climate Change Minister David Kidney said: "After an especially cold winter, and with high bills anticipated by many as a result, I am proud that we are providing immediate financial help for people in fuel poverty, including £294 million of emergency cold weather payments this winter.

"But we're also making long-term and lasting changes by making homes more energy-efficient and warmer. Just this winter, the Warm Front scheme has carried out 25,000 heating or insulation jobs, leading to permanently reduced fuel bills.

"And our recent energy-efficiency strategy puts particular focus on the most vulnerable. It requires energy companies working with local authorities and community groups to target poorer households for house-by-house, street-by-street eco-upgrades.

"It sets minimum energy-efficiency standards for social housing, and explains how we will do the same for rented property, including through tighter regulation.

"But everyone knows this is a really tough issue, that there is more to do and that's why we continue to review our fuel poverty policies."