Fuel poverty is a problem that needs to be addressed
With the soaring prices of gas and electricity last year, many people found themselves in fuel poverty, where they were unable to afford their gas and electricity. And this wasn’t just pensioners, a group with which fuel poverty has been linked for many years. This was many additional households on lower incomes that simply couldn’t afford the rising bills for their energy usage. In fact, twice as many people in the UK are now struggling with fuel poverty as in 2003.
According to recent reports the National Consumer Council and Energywatch are now urging energy suppliers and the government to try and put an end to fuel poverty in the UK. With millions of people suffering because of this problem, the government has now set a target date of 2010 to try and end fuel poverty in these vulnerable households. According to the NCC and Energywatch more vulnerable, lower income households spend around ten percent of their income of paying energy bills, which is almost three times the level of other users.
Gas and electricity prices have been falling over recent months, and this was a move that came after wholesale energy prices were reduced. However, many people have been suffering as a result of the price hikes last year, and even with the reduced prices there are many households and individuals that are spending a large portion of their income on paying for gas and electricity usage, leaving them with less money to spread around on other payments or for disposable income.
Those that are paying too much for their gas and electricity should try and shop around, using price comparison websites such as uswitch.com in order to see if there is a cheaper deal or alternative that could save them money on the cost of their energy usage.
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