Nick Clegg announces measures to cut fuel poverty

13 April 2012

With the cost of living rising and wages stagnating, concerns over fuel poverty and paying utility bills have increased in Britain.

Yesterday (April 12th), deputy prime minister Nick Clegg announced a series of measures designed to help the poorest households heat their homes, whether it is through heating oil or other fuels.

He said that the Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation will allocate £540 million of funding to low-income households. This will help them to pay for free or subsidised improvements including insulation.

Energy firms will be required to provide £1.3 billion a year towards energy efficiency measures, while £190 million will come from the Department of Energy and Climate Change for free loft and cavity wall insulation.

"By delivering lasting improvements, each year this money will help 180,000 of the poorest households make their homes cheaper to heat for good," Mr Clegg commented.

Rob Knight from carbon reduction company Sustain recently called fuel poverty is a significant issue that needs to be addressed, especially in social housing.

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