The news source reported that consumer watchdogs are predicting the number of UK households suffering from fuel poverty to increase by around 50% to more than six million, following reports that gas bills are expected to push beyond GBP1,000 per year within a few years.
The National Consumer Council (NCC) has urged energy suppliers to extend low-priced social tariffs with rebates to low-income families, pensioners and the terminally-ill. Energywatch has called for EU-wide measures to sever the link between oil and gas prices or face disastrous cost increases for customers.
Energy watchdogs have voiced their fears after a report commissioned by energy major Centrica mentioned the possibility of GBP1,000-plus annual gas bills if oil prices remained above the $140 per barrel level. Fuel poverty is interpreted as the condition in which households have to spend a minimum of 10% of their income to keep their living areas at a tolerable temperature.
The Centrica report noted that energy prices in the UK, which have been historically lower compared to the rest of Europe, will increase to similar levels across the continent, according to The Guardian.
