Fuel poverty soars as energy bills rise
LONDON (Reuters) - Half a million more people have been plunged into “fuel poverty” due to the rising cost of gas and electricity, but few are benefiting from so-called social tariffs, research shows.
For every 1 percent increase in household utility bills, a further 40,000 households are plunged into fuel poverty, according to the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform.
With average bills rising 12.5 percent following price increases pushed through so far this year — to 1,026 pounds from 912 pounds — a further 500,000 people are now “fuel poor”, taking the total to 4.5 million consumers, according to price comparison Web site uSwitch.com.
However, Britain’s big six energy suppliers have signed up fewer than 400,000 people to social tariffs, designed to help those struggling to meet energy costs.
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