Many home heating oil customers 'could face cold winter'

20 September 2011

Posted by Kim Bardsley

Many people may like to order their heating oil supplies as soon as possible before prices rise leading up to the winter, as it has been claimed fuel poverty will be a problem for many off-grid households this year.

The Yorkshire Post reports that 6.6 million properties in the UK may be struggling to heat their homes due to high prices for energy, with those in rural areas likely to be among those worst affected.

Chief executive of National Energy Action Jenny Saunders said older people could be especially badly hit, as an ageing population has resulted in many individuals seeing their savings dwindle, leaving less money for essentials such as fuel.

"But it is not just a problem that affects older people, it is families and young children and those who are unemployed," she continued, adding: "The message for public leaders is they need to help people now who this winter will go cold."

Recently, Citizen's Advice and the Department for Energy and Climate Change urged households to purchase heating oil supplies as early as possible before colder weather arrives and prices start to increase.

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