Posted on 04/23/2008 6:18:45 PM PDT by Libloather
Summit to combat fuel poverty a 'disaster', campaigners say
Miles Brignall The Guardian
Thursday April 24 2008
One of Britain's biggest charities has condemned yesterday's energy industry summit as a "disaster" for the 4.5m households living in fuel poverty.
Mervyn Kohler, special adviser to Help the Aged, described the lack of concrete measures to come out of the summit as a slap in the face to the poorest consumers - those who are forced to spend at least 10% of their income to heat and light their home.
Seven government ministers and representatives from each of the big power companies attended the summit, which was called by industry regulator Ofgem to discuss what the large suppliers could do to halt the dramatic rise in the number of households, particularly the elderly, struggling to pay their energy bills.
**SNIP**
Ofgem called the summit after months of negative headlines over fuel poverty, a problem estimated to blight 2.3m of the most vulnerable households in England. Some analysts are advising that gas prices are set to rise by another 25% over the coming year, which would throw another 1m households into fuel poverty.
**SNIP**
Sir John Mogg, head of Ofgem, who chaired the summit, said: "Low incomes and poor housing are the chief causes of fuel poverty and for the government to address. In calling this summit Ofgem has put its duty to help the vulnerable into top gear without compromising the power of the market to help those same consumers."
**SNIP**
The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats yesterday called for greater leadership from the government and better co-ordination between Whitehall and the energy firms.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Drill, refine, repeat.
fuel poverty??????
What about a charity fund to help poor, old people pay their utility bills? We have them here.
I'm currently in whiskey and tequila poverty. But then again I'm getting ready to move after which I'll probably restock.
I’m in destitute Ferrari poverty. Also single-malt scotch poverty.
I have a poverty of greenbacks and coins that jingle, jingle in my pocket. And my wife, her poverty of bling would bring tears to the eyes of all politicians. Also I want a pony.
Charity fund? We pay for the reduced rates, etc. everytime we pay our electric, gas, or telephone bill. They all have ‘fees’ on them to help pay for people who can’t.
I don’t call a forced fee charity.
Good point, I’m in pony poverty too.
Pony poverty is largely underreported by the MSM. Why? They DON’T CARE!!!!!
I think I know what “fuel poverty” means - it means there are people with plenty of money to buy fuel, but instead of doing this they buy lottery tickets or smokes or beer or otherwise waste it, therefore, they don’t have enough left over for fuel. So it’s not “money poverty” because they have money, it’s “ability to make wise choice poverty” - which unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) no government program can offer redress, although admittedly most government programs try to do exactly this.
They ought to conserve their way out of their energy crisis, like the rest of us are told to do.
Neither do I. In my earlier post, I was referring to St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, and other privately-funded organizations.
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