Poorer families suffering as a surge in energy prices risks the health of vulnerable households

The health and wellbeing of Britain's most vulnerable householders is being threatened by unacceptably expensive charges for heating the home, according to the charity Save the Children who are today supporting Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.

Save the Children has joined with fuel poverty charity National Energy Action as part of Fuel Poverty Awareness Day to help draw attention to the lack of support available to low income and vulnerable people who often find it the most difficult to keep warm and avoid health problems caused by colder homes.

Research recently carried out by Save the Children highlighted that vulnerable families were forced to pay an extra £1,300 a year on basic goods and services and that this ‘poverty premium' is an unfair penalty on the poorest people. 

Fuel poverty is defined as those who need to spend more than 10% of their income on heating in order to achieve adequate warmth. Ofgem estimates there are around five million households in fuel poverty in the UK, with over 4 million children affected directly.

Sally Copley, head of UK policy at Save the Children said: "There is a clear link between living in cold, damp conditions for long periods and children's health being at risk.  We are using this year's Fuel Poverty Awareness Day to call on the government to tackle the scandal of rising unaffordable energy bills.

"The Government should extend the Warm Home Discount which is already guaranteed for the poorest pensioners from April this year to include the poorest families. They need to throw a lifeline to low income families struggling to keep their children warm at home."

Both charities are currently working with government on its Warm Home Discount, which would provide pensioners with an automatic rebate as part of a social tariff. However low income and vulnerable families will not be included in the discount, meaning millions of people will be left struggling to pay their energy bills.

NEA has made recommendations that the Warm Home Discount be extended to all those who currently receive cold weather payments, which are those made when the weather drops below 0 degrees for seven consecutive days.  Save the Children has so far received over 15,000 signatures to support the discount reaching all vulnerable groups including low income families.

Commenting about the importance of the campaign, Charles Hendry, Energy and Climate Change Minister, said: "The Government recognises the need to help low income and vulnerable groups keep their homes warm at an affordable cost and the vital health benefits this can bring which is why I welcome and support NEA's Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.

"A key part of the solution is improved energy efficiency of the UK's housing stock. Through the Green Deal and the new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) we will ensure resources are focused on fuel poor households in conventional properties and to fuel poor households occupying hard to treat dwellings." 

NEA's Director of Communications, Maria Wardrobe, said: "It is vitally important to keep your home warm throughout the entire winter and to know there is support out there if you are worried about your bills."

"NEA is urging people to call the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) where they can access a range of help and support from a variety of sources including energy companies.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day takes place on 11 February 2011 and aims to raise awareness of the issue of health and cold weather and point people to places where they can get help and support.

NEA is the UK's leading fuel poverty charity campaigning for affordable warmth in the homes of vulnerable people. For further details visit http://www.nea.org.uk

Fuel poverty is defined as when a household is required to spend more than ten per cent of its income after housing costs on total fuel use.

The Government introduced the Energy Bill to Parliament on 8 December 2010 which includes provision for a new "Green Deal". It is intended to revolutionise the energy efficiency of British properties. The Government is establishing a framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill.

The Coalition Government intends to bring forward a new obligation on energy companies, the ECO, from 2012, when existing programmes are complete.

The Home Heat Helpline is a free, not for profit, phone line set up to help British energy customers who are struggling to pay their fuel bill and keep warm. The Home Heat Helpline was launched by the Energy Retail Association in October 2005 and has become a cornerstone service for low-income households in urgent need of heating help and advice. (0800 33 66 99 or www.homeheathelpline.co.uk).

Save the Children want families in poverty to get a fair deal on heating costs. We want them to be included in the government's proposed Warm Home Discount rebate which launches in April.  We are encouraging our supporters to help make this happen by taking action and signing our petition at http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/ripoff

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