Quarter Of A Million Households Face So Called Fuel Poverty

When the winter comes around most of us think nothing of turning up the heating to keep the house warm. But for some this is just not an option, these are people who are in so called ‘fuel poverty’.

Fuel poverty is defined as when a household is forced to spend more than ten per cent of total income to heat their home to an adequate standard (21 degrees centigrade in the living room and 18 degrees centigrade in other rooms).

Rising unemployment and higher energy prices are likely to push hundreds of thousands more homes into fuel poverty, a key government advisory body says.

Over 250,000 UK households are facing a stark future of "fuel poverty" if, as expected, gas and electricity bills continue to rise.

The chief executive of Energywatch is predicting a 15 per cent increase in gas and electricity bills this year, threatening thousands with the prospect of not being able to afford their fuel bills.

The Department of Trade and Industry estimates that for every one per cent hike in gas and electricity bills 40,000 households are condemned to fuel poverty.

"It is a worrying time for vulnerable customers, with record price hikes expected to be announced and a colder than average winter forecast," said a utility analyst.

"We are increasingly aware that more vulnerable customers are at grave risk of falling into fuel poverty. The elderly and people in the lower income brackets are least likely to have switched energy supplier since privatisation."

How to keep heating and lighting costs down in your home:

•    When you leave a room turn off the lights.
•    Turn down your thermostat by 1 degree – this can make a huge difference over time.
•    Put on more clothes – this will allow you to have the heating on a lower temperature.
•    Make a warm drink or have a hot filling meal.
•    Block draughts under doors or around windows.

If you would like to know more about utilities why not ask AnswerBank Home and Garden.