Utilities Urged To Give Poor Families A Helping Hand

Just a year after claiming that they were struggling to cope with dwindling supplies and soaring wholesale prices, the UK's biggest utilities firms seem to be doing alright for themselves again.

Despite increasing profits, consumers have been warned to expect rising costs for the next two years at least. Global wholesale oil price escalation has been blamed and, as usual, it is the poorest households that are likely to be hardest hit.

Notably, while this latest round of profits isn't going to be passed onto consumers, it seems inevitable that energy companies' customers will be called on to bear the brunt of these fluctuations in the wholesale market and, just as is the case now, it's likely that low-income families and the elderly will struggle to do so.

Commenting on the current situation in many homes across the country, the chief executive of a leading family charity reported that growing numbers of families are being forced to make stark choices between keeping warm in the winter and feeding their children.

And, though the big suppliers may have to react to rising wholesale prices, they could give these people a much-needed helping hand by levelling their tariffs out.

It is scandalous that the poorest families already effectively pay a premium for their fuel and other goods and services because their lack of a bank account means they cannot use direct debit and more favourable payment methods.

The injustice that the poor pay more continues to demand action from government and those providing a range of goods and services.

Until this happens, the best solution is to carry on shopping around and switching utilities suppliers if it's appropriate or even possible.

For those unable to benefit from direct debit payment discounts or special online offers, then it could well be a case of sitting tight and simply hoping that the government cracks down on such pre-payment penalties before next winter's price hikes kick in.

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