5,700 households are in fuel poverty

AROUND 5,700 families in Oldham are living in fuel poverty, the Government has revealed.

It means 5,700 families across the borough are having to pay out more than 10 per cent of their income on fuel bills, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has admitted.

The Government estimates 2.5 million households are in fuel poverty but Age concern believe the figure could be as high as 4.5 million.

More than 90 MPs in Westminster are demanding the Government impose a windfall tax on energy companies as concern for people on low incomes grows with energy suppliers announcing steep rises in the price of gas and electricity.

Age Concern fears almost one in five UK households — an estimated 4.5 million — are now living in fuel poverty and if energy prices go up by 40 per cent, this could rise to around six million households.

If the rise was seen across the country it could mean an additional 1,881 households in fuel poverty across Oldham.

Director general of Age Concern Gordon Lishman said: “The Government must seize control of this escalating crisis and take immediate action to ease the pressure on millions of households. As an emergency measure to help alleviate the problem this winter, the Government and energy companies should be working together to offer ‘fuel vouchers’ to the poorest pensioners.

“But in order to stand a real chance of helping the poorest pensioners, the Government must make it mandatory for energy companies to offer social tariffs at the cheapest rates.”
The alarming figures come in the wake of further misery for thousands of households across the district as two of Britain’s energy suppliers upped their gas and electricity prices.

The decision means E.ON and Scottish and Southern Energy dual fuel customers will pay an estimated £200 more each year. It follows similar rises from British Gas and EDF Energy last month.