Nearly 7m should expect fuel poverty

21 July 2008

An additional 2.4 million people will face fuel poverty if predicted gas price increases are realised, uSwitch has warned.

May`s white paper on energy bills suggested a 60 per cent rise in the price of gas should be expected. The comparison site said this increase would push the number of those experiencing fuel poverty from 4.5 million to 6.9 million – a rise of 53 per cent.

This may be of concern to those facing debt problems due to increasing household bills.

The comparison site has recommended fixing energy prices with providers before the predicted rises hit.

"Coupled with the credit crunch and the ongoing battle to make their money go further, consumers should steel themselves for a winter of discontent – the days of cheap energy aren`t just over, they now seem to be extinct," said uSwitch.

Statistics cited by uSwitch show an 88 per cent increase on gas bills and 68 per cent rise on electricity bills since 2004.

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