news story

29th July 2008

West MP Backs Plan to Help Pensioners Tackle Soaring Fuel Bills

Northavon MP Steve Webb has launched proposals that would help thousands of West households facing soaring bills for gas and electricity over the coming months.

The MP, who is the Lib Dems' spokesman in Parliament on energy issues, has prepared a 'fuel poverty strategy' which was launched this week by Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.

The strategy would place new duties on the power companies to do more to improve the energy efficiency of houses across the area and would require them to improve the deal that they offer to the most needy customers. The new obligations would be paid for from the multi-billion pound 'windfall' that the companies have received through a Europe-wide scheme for trading permits to emit carbon dioxide.

Steve Webb said:

"Many householders are already struggling to make ends meet, and the huge increases in gas and electricity bills that we are now seeing will stretch them to breaking point. At the same time, the energy companies are making billions of pounds in profit and are not doing enough to help their customers.

"The Liberal Democrats want to see a legal duty on companies to make sure that pensioners and customers on low incomes are offered the best tariff that the company offers.

"We also need to make sure that householders are given more help in making their homes energy efficient through better insulation.

"The companies should also be fitting modern 'smart' meters which avoid the need for estimated bills and which help people to see how much power they are using".

The price rises announced by EDF would, if followed by the other companies, add around £200 per year to the bill of the average household. Although the Government has announced additional support, the increase in the Winter Fuel Payment for the coming winter will only be £50 for most pensioner households.