Citizens Advice calls for decisive action to tackle fuel poverty

Citizens Advice warns that “pinning all our hopes on increased transparency” will not tackle the problem of rising bills at a time when many household budgets are already being squeezed.

Following the release of the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s report on Energy Prices, Profits and Poverty, Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of national charity Citizens Advice, said:

“Without a comprehensive fuel poverty strategy, increasing transparency will not be enough to solve the 91,000 fuel debt problems which Citizens Advice Bureaux handled in the past year.

“It’s infuriating for struggling consumers to see announcements of record-breaking profits as they struggle to meet ever-higher energy bills, but pinning all our hopes on increased transparency is simply not enough to help the millions of people who are forced to cut back on essential spending or run up debts in order to meet the cost of their energy bills.

“If this is to change then suppliers must do all they can to keep prices as low as possible, alongside increasing transparency and simplifying tariffs. It’s vital that the Government’s fuel poverty strategy includes comprehensive, legally binding targets to end fuel poverty. Anything less will mean abandoning hard-pressed consumers to a vicious cycle of rising bills and increasing poverty.”

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Notes to editors

1. Citizens Advice Bureaux helped with 91, 734 problems with fuel poverty between April 2012 and March 2013.
2. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see www.citizensadvice.org.uk
3. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk
4. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 6.9 million problems from April 2011 to March 2012. For full 2011/2012 service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
5. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
6. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,500 service outlets across England and Wales.