So what is Fuel Poverty. According to the Government, fuel poverty occurs when a household needs to spend 10% or more of its income on fuel. Adequate warmth is when the main living room is heated to 21 degrees and the rest of the house at 18 degrees during the day. Lower temperatures are adequate at night.
According to official Government figures, around 3.5 million households currently spend more than 10% of their income on heat and fuel – the official yardstick for fuel poverty. In 2003, only 1.5 million were living in fuel poverty but huge price hikes in electricity and gas bills in recent years have seen numbers rocket.
The government has a long-standing vow to end fuel poverty in England by 2016.
Their main is to get homes insulated but that does not help people when energy companies are hiking prices when stock is in short supply and not lowering them again when stock levels are normal. OFGEM does nothing to help – perhaps the staff all have shares in the major energy companies. The government does not rise benefits in line with the 10 – 25% rise in bills.
Its an ill wind that blows when you have to decide whether to starve or be warm.
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6 Responses to “Fuel Poverty”
karen
4 months ago
I can’t help but notice the rise in the fuel prices.just like other people
in this country.
surely we should be putting our money into supporting shops buying a weekly shop instead of using some of that money on fuel due to the price of fuel.
karen
4 months ago
so how much more is it costing to fuel the car..and has it really affected your life style?
admin
3 months ago
It’s funny you mention about using local shops because yesterday they said on the news that people are spending more and more in supermarkets.
It sums that up that people must be buying more and more there.
Admin Deb
3 months ago
Fuel poverty is really what we spend on our heating & general household fuel costs not petrol etc, but local shops are more expensive than supermarkets so people have to economise somewhere. I would rather be warm and buy the cheapest or most cost effective item than freeze and eat caviar.
karen
3 months ago
oh i would have to go along with you there debs ,i hate the cold
karen
3 months ago
some people cant afford to use there cars all week may be once or twice ,but then your paying village prices for your grocories crazy