Two million more households face fuel poverty following energy price hike - Lamb

12.00.00am GMT Thu 9th Feb 2006

New calculations released today by Liberal Democrat Shadow DTI Secretary, Norman Lamb MP, show that up to two million more vulnerable households could be heading for fuel poverty as a result of recent energy price rises.

EnergyWatch already predicts that the one million households who found themselves in fuel poverty in 2003 will soon be joined by another 1.5 million following the rise in energy prices over the last 2 years. According to the DTI's fuel poverty ready-reckoner the latest predictions of a further 14% rise will push a further 560,000 million households into fuel poverty.

Commenting on the figures, Mr Lamb said "The Government needs a radical change of approach to encourage energy conservation. Energy efficiency in the home can make a real difference, cutting heating bills significantly.

"We must also exert more pressure on the EU to act now on liberalising energy markets."