'Become energy efficient to help tackle fuel poverty'
The fuel poverty report published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change this morning is out of date and fails to tell the full story about the UK's current crisis, uSwitch.com claimed today.
DECC reports that in 2009 there were 5.5 million fuel poor households in Britain – a dramatic one million rise on 2008 figures.
But new figures from uSwitch reveal that 6.3 million households are in fuel poverty today.
Ann Robinson, the comparison site’s director of consumer policy, said energy bills have soared by 71 per cent in five years and households must start protecting themselves by paying the lowest possible tariff and becoming more energy efficient.
She said: “All households should also look to invest in longer term energy efficiency measures, such as insulating lofts and cavity walls.
“Those who would struggle to afford this investment should contact their energy supplier to see whether they would qualify for any energy efficiency grants or financial support.
“Suppliers have a pot of money available to help customers in this way and those who qualify could see their energy bills substantially reduced as a result.”
