Skip navigation | Skip to footer
 

Citizens Advice response to the fuel poverty action programme

30 May 2008

Teresa Perchard, Director of Public Policy at Citizens Advice said:

“The fuel poverty action programme published today by Ofgem represents a serious commitment from the fuel industry, government and regulators to do more to tackle the growing and pernicious problem of fuel poverty. With an estimated 4.5 million people now in fuel poverty* and rising numbers struggling to pay their bills all agencies need to play a part to resolve this. We are pleased to be rolling out the Energy Best Deal campaign, providing local financial education and information sessions to low income households, on a national scale.

“In the first two months of this year bureaux saw an 11% increase in the number of fuel debt cases they were seeing compared to the same period last year. Yet the recent Energy Best Deal pilot we ran with Ofgem in Devon and Cornwall, Yorkshire and Wales revealed how much people could save simply by switching providers, tariffs or moving off a pre-payment meter, once they had access to clear information from a trusted source and we are looking forward to taking this project forward.

“However there is still much more that needs to be done to help hard to reach parts of the community. In addition to raising awareness about social tariffs and disseminating information about all the help that is available, intermediary help needs to be made available to the most vulnerable customers who may not have internet access, need help using a telephone or simply find the process of switching or applying for help daunting.”

* Figure according to energywatch.

Case studies:

A CAB saw a woman on Disability Living Allowance who lived on her own. Her only heating was from storage heaters. Her total cash income was approximately £70 per week but she was paying more than £30 per week on her electricity.

A CAB saw a 65 year old man who was retired. He used a payment card for his electricity, which was more expensive and paid for in advance. He had been paying £15 weekly and was £128 in credit. He was then told he had to start paying £27 a week which he could not afford.

A CAB in London saw a single man with multiple debts who was paying £13 a week in fuel charges which was more than 20% of his income.

A CAB in Yorkshire saw a woman on a very low income living in a one-bedroom flat paying for her gas on a pre-payment meter at a cost of £20 per week and electricity at £10 per week. She could not afford to heat her flat.

Notes to editors

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see New windowwww.adviceguide.org.uk
  3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2010 to March 2011. For full 2010/2011 service statistics see: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_statistics
  4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
  5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.