NEW FIGURES HIGHLIGHT GROWING 'FUEL POVERTY' IN HEREFORDSHIRE

3.02.17pm GMT Wed 4th Mar 2009

Lib Dems like Rochdale MP Paul Rowen have called for the government to help find ways to help people deal with the massive increase in gas and electricity bills

Soaring energy bills have left an estimated 7294 households in Hereford, Ross and across South Herefordshire in fuel poverty1 this winter, according to new figures highlighted by the Liberal Democrats.

Liberal Democrat parliamentary campaigner for Hereford and South Herefordshire, Sarah Carr, is demanding the Government act urgently to help people struggling to pay their fuel bills, end the scandal of rip-off pre-pay meters and is calling on MPs of all parties to back the Fuel Poverty Bill being introduced by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath.

Sarah said:

"These new estimates from Consumer Focus are truly shocking. It's not hard to see the culprit. The energy companies are making big profits. Over the last five years average gas and electricity bills have more than doubled. The prices being paid by energy companies for fuel on the wholesale markets are coming down, but the companies aren't passing on the cuts to their customers. This is totally unacceptable - the energy companies must cut their bills faster to their customers.

"As recession bites, across Herefordshire an increasing number of people are being faced with the dreadful choice between heating and eating. I am calling on the Government to take urgent action to help people struggling with high fuel bills.

"The Fuel Poverty Bill currently in Parliament, proposed by Liberal Democrat MP David Heath, would deliver a massive home insulation programme which would halve the energy needed to heat the average home. And it would end the scandal of those who use pre-pay meters - generally the least well-off - paying higher rates for their gas and electricity.