Ofgem 'needs to prevent fuel poverty rise'

Article date : 24/02/2010

Despite wholesale energy costs continuing to decline, many UK households have seen their utility bills go up in recent years, which could put more Britons at risk of living in fuel poverty.

A new report by energy watchdog Ofgem has revealed that the profits of utility providers have risen.

It found the net margin for an average standard tariff dual fuel customer rose by a further £30 in February 2010 from November.

This is despite the news that wholesale energy costs are on the decline.

Commenting on the news, Lesley Tudor-Snodin, spokeswoman for National Energy Action, said Ofgem should be doing all it could to stop more people from falling into fuel poverty.

"Households on the lowest incomes who have just spent the winter worried about whether or not they can afford to put their heating on will now be wondering why the energy suppliers' profits have increased so much this year," she added.

Consumers may wish to take steps to make their central heating systems more energy efficient in order to save money.

The Energy Saving Trust claims replacing a G-rated boiler with a condensing boiler and heating controls could reduce bills by a third each year.

Written by Jasper Cullen

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