Urgent action needed to protect most vulnerable from utility bill rises

10.47.03am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 17th Aug 2008

With energy companies recently announcing price rises of up to 35%, Stephen Robinson, Parliamentary Candidate for Chelmsford, has said that energy companies should be compelled to use the money from a £9 billion European windfall to help protect some of the most vulnerable people from the effects of fuel poverty.

The energy firms received the multi-billion-pound windfall thanks to the giveaway of free permits to emit Carbon Dioxide under the European Union¹s Emissions Trading Scheme. Previous estimates have put the proceeds of that

windfall at £9bn, although Ofgem estimates the true figure could be even higher.

Stephen commented: "Many local people will wonder how energy companies can enjoy a massive subsidy at a time when many families are facing an increasingly desperate struggle to pay their energy bills.

"This multi-billion pound windfall should be used to protect the most vulnerable people from the effects of fuel poverty. If action is not taken now then many families are going to face an increasingly tough time paying

their bills this winter.

"Everyone I meet is worried about rising prices. There is also a lot of fear about job losses and the threat of repossessions as house prices fall. People want to see action from Gordon Brown, but nothing seems to be

happening.

"Gordon Brown and Labour are simply out of touch with real life in Chelmsford and elsewhere."