People urged to contact their MPs

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is asking people to urge their MPs to back a new bill aimed at eradicating fuel poverty when it goes before Parliament in March for its second reading. Unless 100 MPs attend the session, the bill stands no chance of becoming law.

The Fuel Poverty Bill was adopted by David Heath, MP for Somerton and Frome, in the annual ballot for Private Members’ Bills. CSE is part of the coalition of organisations behind the Bill.

The Bill aims to ‘fuel poverty-proof’ the homes of those living in fuel poverty and bring properties up to the energy efficiency standards enjoyed by modern houses. It also requires social tariffs to be provided for people by energy suppliers whilst their homes are being improved.

The Government is legally committed to eradicating fuel poverty in vulnerable homes by 2010, and in all homes by 2016 wherever practically possible. However, in its latest Fuel Poverty Strategy progress report, the Government admits that it is not going to hit its 2010 target.

According to a recent study carried out by CSE, in association with eaga partnership charitable trust, entitled ‘How Much?’, the current government-funded fuel poverty programme, ‘Warm Front’, and other energy supplier programmes aimed at low income households do not provide the necessary measures required to meet these targets. Specifically, these programmes do not fund measures for ‘hard to treat’ homes.

More information: www.cse.org.uk