Öpik warns helpline can't solve fuel poverty

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 21st Nov 2006

Lembit Öpik, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, today helped raise awareness of fuel poverty by attending the campaign launch of the Home Heat Helpline.

Commenting, Lembit said "Energy price rises are pushing more and more households into fuel poverty. Indeed, it is estimated that 300,000 Welsh homes will be affected by fuel poverty this winter. The most vulnerable groups are older people, lone parents and disabled people.

"I welcome the Home heat Helpline - it is an excellent initiative. This is a free number that anyone can ring, no matter who their energy supplier is. I urge anyone who is having difficulty heating their home to take advantage of the Helpline and the free advice and grants available."

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of heating the home properly in the winter months. It also aims to help people understand their rights if they are in financial difficulty and cannot afford proper heating and check whether special grants are available to them.

Commenting further, Lembit said "This Helpline is a much needed lifeline for people facing fuel poverty.

"However, in the longer-term, the Government must urgently rethink its fuel poverty strategy. There is clearly a crisis looming and we need far greater financial incentives for people to invest in energy efficiency measures and a more pro-active carrot and stick approach to reduce people's energy use."

Ends / Diwedd

Notes:

• Home Heat Helpline: 0800 33 66 99

• The Home Heat Helpline launched the second year of its campaign at One Great George Street London on Tuesday 21st November 2006

• The Helpline is a not for profit service, run by the Energy Retail Association, and is supported by charities including Gingerbread, the Royal British Legion and Carers UK.

• The Helpline provides assistance to customers on low incomes including families on benefits, lone parents and older people who have trouble paying their fuel bills.

• The helpline can also take calls from intermediaries calling on behalf of vulnerable customers, such as friends, family, carers, social workers or health visitors.

• Fuel poverty occurs when a household needs to spend 10% or more of its income on fuel to maintain satisfactory heating and other energy services. Any household spending 20% or more is deemed to be in severe fuel poverty.

• Energywatch Wales, the energy consumer watchdog, estimates that by the end of 2006, fuel poverty will hit over 3m households in the UK and 300,000 Welsh households. There are just over 1.2m households in Wales. In 2003, the Welsh Assembly Government estimated that there 130,000 households in Wales in fuel poverty.