Energy News

A third of pensioners struggling with energy bills

Tuesday 11 November, 2008

By becca.talbot@consumerchoices.co.uk

More than 4.5 million elderly people live in just one heated room of their homes, according to a new survey by the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership.

The new figures show that 2 million more pensioners across the UK face fuel poverty this year than last, and many are resorting to heating just one room in their home to save on their bills.

The same survey carried out last year revealed how 2.5 million older people were struggling to stay warm and well.

This year a quarter of British pensioners seek refuge under their bed clothes to stay warm, compared to one in seven last year.

Furthermore, 50% of all those questioned in the survey said they will be forced to turn down their heating this winter if they cannot meet their fuel costs.

The Partnership between charity Help the Aged and energy supplier British Gas (www.britishgas.co.uk), was set up in 1999 and offers advice and information on the benefits, grants and energy efficiency measures available to those most vulnerable to fuel poverty.

Mervyn Kohler, spokesperson for the Partnership said: “The Government has admitted that it won’t meet its legal obligation for eradicating fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010. As half of all pensioners feel they will need to turn down their heating this winter to meet fuel costs, this is a damning indictment of the government’s approach to cutting fuel poverty and it is time that it started to take its targets seriously.”

The government is working on a number of campaigns focused on encouraging people to save energy and cut down on their bills. They have committed more than £800million to its Warm Front scheme, and has provided heating and insulation improvements to 1.7 million homes around the UK.

The survey, carried out by ICM Research, also showed that one in seven - nearly two million older people - said in order to meet their fuel costs they would have to use their savings. And a disturbing one in ten revealed they would cut back on essentials such as food or clothes.

One widower polled in the survey lives a frugal life in order to save money on her energy bills. Jennifer, 67 from Lincolnshire, won’t switch the heating on until December, and uses an Aga and wood-burning stove to keep costs down. She also barters with homemade goods.

Jennifer never goes out to eat, cuts her own hair and doesn’t buy new clothes. Struggling on an income of just £187 a week before she spoke to an adviser, Jennifer said: “Without the support I wouldn’t have had the confidence to make an application for extra benefits. I hope that other people who are struggling will read this and get help like I did.”

To order a free “3 Steps to a Warmer Winter” pack, call the British Gas Help the Aged Partnership on 0800 089 0800, or download the pack from the website here.

Chris Eagle, commercial manager at EnergyChoices.co.uk said: “A benefit similar to the Winter Fuel Payment would help with costs for the elderly during the colder months. And more information on where they can get help on insulation and energy efficient improvements would be useful, too.”

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