Poor people ‘priced out of heating’

Post by Kevin Jackson on 22nd February 2012 in

A leading charity has warned that poor consumers are finding it increasingly difficult to keep their homes warm, potentially putting their health at risk. 

According to Barnardo’s, the poorest ten per cent of householders spend around £700 on heating each year, when approximately £1,165 is required to keep homes warm. The report also warned that consumers using pre-payment meters pay £80 more than those on direct debit tariffs. 

“If we’re serious about tackling child poverty then we need to get serious about tackling fuel poverty too. Families should never have to choose between whether to heat their homes or put food on the table for their children,” said chief executive Anne Marie Carrie. 

Ms Carrie stressed that energy providers have a “moral duty” to ensure they treat their customers fairly and claimed less well-off consumers are effectively being penalised by suppliers for having to use pre-payment meters. 

Last week, gas and electricity supplier EDF Energy – one of Britain’s so-called ‘big six’ providers – announced that its pre-tax profits rose by 8.5 per cent in 2011, despite an eight per cent drop in sales.

Related articles: