Survey reveals that one third of working families find paying energy bills difficult
November 2016 - Utilities
Survey reveals that one third of working families find paying energy bills difficult: A recent utilities survey has revealed that one in three working families find it hard to pay their energy bills, as the pressure increases on energy suppliers to do more to help less well-off households find cheaper deals.
Of the families in the survey, 29 per cent do not turn on the heating even when it is cold and a further two in three are worried that scrimping on their energy usage to cut costs will have a negative impact on their family’s health.
Ofgem, the energy regulator, has backed calls for energy suppliers to make customers aware of cost-saving initiatives, such as the warm home discount. The warm home discount makes it mandatory for companies with more than 250,000 customers to give a £140 discount to low-income pensioners and other vulnerable people. However, it has been criticised for taking a long time to give the reduced rate.
A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said that the Government backs energy customers and provides crucial support for members of the public who are in need of help the most.
The spokesperson added that for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will continue to support the warm home discount scheme.
According to the spokesperson, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy are refocusing the ‘energy company obligation’, which is a government energy efficiency measure, so that it combats the root cause of fuel poverty.
Sign up to our newsletter to receive free insights from your sector...
Support Us...
We hope that you have found this article useful. This section is freely available for all to use. Please help support it by liking us or following us on our social media platforms:
