Rising energy bills bring winter deaths

The Centre for Sustainable Energy estimates that 6.6million households in the UK are now in fuel poverty. The Scottish Government believes the figure in Scotland has passed one million.

Posted by Colin Fox on October 28, 2011. Filed under Fuel Poverty,News. Posted with the tags:Fuel Poverty
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Cartoon by Frank Boyle

A Government report has predicted 27,000 more people will die this winter as a result of the present fuel poverty epidemic.

The reports author Professor John Hills, Director of the Centre for Social Exclusion at the London School of Economics, was commissioned by the UK Government to investigate the extent of the problem.

He has warned that “fuel poverty poses a serious public health risk”, and he suggests recent rises in the cost of gas and electricity will make the position worse than ever.

Britain already has one of the highest death rates from fuel poverty of anywhere in Europe. The main cause of these extra winter deaths is respiratory failure and cardiovascular illness brought on by the cold.

“It is a very serious problem” said Professor Hills. “There are more people dying now [from fuel poverty] than die on the roads. It is a problem for low income families who are having to pay out more and more when they’ve got hard to heat houses.”

Commenting on Professor Hills report Citizens Advice chief executive Gillian Guy said “Its horrifying that so many people are dying each year because they cannot afford to heat their home.” The Centre for Sustainable Energy estimates that 6.6million households in the UK are now in fuel poverty. The Scottish Government believes the figure in Scotland has passed one million.

The Hills report comes days after OFGEM, the energy industry regulator, revealed a huge increase in profits for the big six power companies who control the UK market. They have increased their profits between June and October of this year by 733 per cent and made £125 for each domestic customer compared to £15/year in June.

The issue of fuel poverty has raced up the political agenda in Britain and seems certain to stay there as winter fast approaches. Customers throughout Britain are furious at the energy companies they see

profiteering at their expense. Energy bills have doubled in the last five years, but wages, benefits and pensions have not. Further outcry is expected in November when the full impact of the recent 19 per cent rise in gas and electricity prices is divulged by the latest quarterly bills.

The Scottish Socialist Party has been campaigning on this issue of escalating fuel poverty for several months now with branches as far apart at Edinburgh, Paisley, Bathgate, Perth and Cumbernauld all reporting enormous support for our petition demanding immediate and meaningful action.

Tens of thousands of signatures have been gathered up and sent to UK Energy Secretary Chris Huhne insisting these bills are reduced and that effective measures are taken to eradicate fuel poverty altogether.

The SSP petition contains the following key demands of Government:

Reduce fuel bills now to help those in greatest need * Double the winter fuel allowance to pensioners and extend it to all other vulnerable groups such as the disabled, the unemployed, low paid, single parents and students.

Increase the funds available for those programmes which help people install more fuel efficient heating systems and more effective insulation.

Eradicate fuel poverty by 2015.

Build 100,000 new affordable public sector homes for rent each year to replace the present poor housing stock.

Step up investment in renewable energy to diversify away from expensive and polluting fossil fuels.

Return the power companies to public ownership.

Of course none of the four corporate parties in Scotland has offered much help to embattled energy customers beyond warm words and crocodile tears. Indeed both Governments at Westminster and Holyrood have cut the help previously provided to vulnerable groups.

The Chancellor George Osborne has cut the winter fuel allowance to pensioners from £400 to £300 as part of his austerity package. And Alex Salmond has similarly cut the help available to those wishing to install fuel efficient heating systems. Furthermore the SNP has shamefully abandoned its 2007 commitment to eradicate fuel poverty in Scotland by 2015.

The Scottish Socialist Party on the other hand has continued to vent the anger of millions and we have been in contact with fuel poverty campaign groups up and down the country to suggest ways of bringing everyone with an interest in the matter together for a conference.

We aim to discuss how best to marshall the enormous public fury about this situation more effectively. The Hills report puts even more urgency behind that initiative and we will be reporting on further developments in these pages in the weeks to come.