Fuel poverty targets likely to be missed

 

April 10, 2008

According to a recent report fuel poverty targets set by the government are likely to be missed as a result of recent hikes in energy prices coupled with the government’s own policies. The prediction comes from the government’s own advisers on the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group. Around 2.3 million households are already thought to be in fuel poverty following the recent price hikes, where they are paying out over 10% of their income on fuel bills.

The government has targets in place to try and eliminate fuel poverty over the coming decade, with plans to tackle fuel poverty for the more vulnerable first and then focus on eliminating fuel poverty altogether. The target for eliminating fuel poverty for the more vulnerable is 2010, and for other households by 2016. However, officials say that it is unlikely that these targets will be met.

Advisers have said that there is a chance that the later target in 2016 could be met, but only if some very difficult decisions are made. However, with the cost of wholesale energy rocketing again, leading energy suppliers to hike up their prices significantly earlier this year the government could face severe problems in trying to meet the earlier target for more vulnerable households.

Officials from the advisory group said: “The increase in energy prices has made the fuel poverty targets much more challenging. However, the government’s policies over a period have now made it impossible to meet the 2010 target and this will result in a shortfall, greater than necessary.” They went on to say: “The government has recently taken some important steps, but has not yet in our judgement done everything which is reasonably practicable to meet the targets.”

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Written by admin · Filed Under Energy, Utilities 

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