Thousands 'in 'fuel poverty' as energy costs increase

from Edinburgh Evening Times

HUNDREDS of thousands of households are living in "fuel poverty" because of soaring energy costs, campaigners warned today.

Some 600,000 households and 100,000 children in Scotland have been hit by rocketing fuel prices between 2003 and 2006, they said.

A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than ten per cent of its income to maintain satisfactory heating, according to a UK government definition.

Today, children's charities Barnardo's and Save the Children teamed up with consumer group energywatch Scotland to urge the Westminster Government to take action.

As winter approaches, they are calling for the introduction of so-called social tariffs in the Energy Bill, to be announced during this week's Queen's Speech.

Such a move would require energy firms to help ease the burden on consumers who cannot pay greatly increased heating costs.

So far, campaigners say, voluntary efforts by companies have been insufficient.