MSE News: More help urged over fuel poverty

savemoney

The FiT hasn't helped either, all it does it hit the poorest in society disproportionately. Its all very well these bureaucrats dreaming up solutions to cut emissions but it effects those who can least afford it

The poor shouldn't have a choice between eating and heating its scandalous and under this government we will see more people in poverty

carlyon

Warm Home Discount.
A wonderful conundrum.
The Government state that for those that qualify they will get £120 credit to their WINTER electricity bill. For those on Pension Guarantee Credit the Government clearly state, “you do not need to do anything”. The government go on to state that this credit will be made in “the winter months”
So let us first define Winter, In 1780 the Societas Meteorologica Palatina, an early international organization for meteorology, defined seasons as groupings of three whole months. Ever since, professional meteorologists all over the world have used this definition. Therefore, in meteorology for the Northern hemisphere, spring begins on 1 March, summer on 1 June, autumn on 1 September, and winter on 1 December.
So for the past 232 years winter has started on 1ST December and ended on 1ST March; which would mean your Warm Home discount will be applied to your bill raised in this period and furthermore credited to your bill in this same period, but not necessarily on the same date.
However, Scottish Electricity say their winter period covers six months, but they cannot tell you when this period starts; but they do then add that you should get your £120 by 31ST March 2012. Anybody spot the conundrum, for it would appear the Government is either misleading the voters or the Electricity company, as it is possible your credit will not be made till the Spring. In the mean time, the Electricity company will want you to pay the bill.
But as with all matters nowadays you need to read the small print. The Government says you will get a discount of £120 if you qualify, but it does not attach further conditions. Upon carefully reading the Electricity company’s statement, they say, “This rebate replaces our previous Winter Rebates and energyplus Care tariff we’ve offered in the past” but does not make it clear if this applies to all the customers who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount.
Now for some mathematics, if the energyplus Care tariff is approximately equal to a 25% discount and will be withdrawn and, if your yearly bill is above £480 you will be worse off. So why is the Government, in effect now subsidised the energy company’s profits to the detriment of the vulnerable in our society is my question?
On the other hand, did the Government plan to help the vulnerable with their winter fuel costs, only to have the electricity company grab the rebate, and hide a price increase for those on these special tariffs?

chloew1

:mad:

Mr_Ted wrote: »

:mad: Quite honestly I find it disgusting that you are in this situation and that you have to do what you do to survive and is a damning endictment of our supposed welfare state :mad:

I also find it disgusting that there are people on here who cannot and do not understand the difficulties that some people have to live with through no fault of their own whilst they act like scrooges in comfort :mad:

!!!!!! has this country and its people come to, you should really be proud of yourselves some of you :T:T:T

well said i think the rich get richer the poor get poorer people loose jobs though no fault of there own and then you are called a scrooge when you need help the most i once was proud to be british not anymore when i lost my job and the treatment i got at the job center i can not put into words the goverment need to get out of the ivory towers and ask what the people want:mad:

Celticheart

I'm a single male 47, currently unemployed and in severe 'fuel poverty' as I now have to pay nearly 30% of my benefit on Gas & Electricity, add to this water rates and other essential costs (travel to the job centre, rent contribution (arrears)) this rises to 40%.

But I am not entitled to any help now, although under the old Social Care Tariffs criteria I would have received this tariff, and that the old Social Care Tariffs where available on both the Gas & Electricity Accounts, but under the new Warm Home Discount I am not entitled to anything, and it is only offered on the Electricity Accounts, strange to think as more than 50% of all homes are heated by Gas?

So in real terms every one will be worse off under this new scheme, and as stated above, will in real terms give the energy companies even more money.

I still would like to know how both the government and the people of Britain are allowing this fraud to continue, as it is obvious to anyone that these price increases are purely for increased profit, just look at the energy companies profit statements, the prices go up by 10% and they report a 23% increase in profits? the wholesale price of energy goes up 5%, we get an immediate 6.5% price increase, the wholesale price goes down 6% we get a 3 month delayed price drop of 2%............. :mad:

jonewer

Celticheart wrote: »

I still would like to know how both the government and the people of Britain are allowing this fraud to continue, as it is obvious to anyone that these price increases are purely for increased profit,

The governments (note plural) allow it because they have sold everything to foreign companies who are now free to profit gouge the British people and asset-strip our infrastructure without shame. The governments like it this way because they can just shrug and say "meh, nothing to do with us". The people in government are all rich. They dont care about you peasants and your stupid little bills.

Its not just with energy but with water, trains, pretty much everything really.

The British people allow this to happen by voting in the same governments decade after decade after decade.

Who did you vote for at the last election? Was it a party that is or has been in government since the late 70s? If so, you are to blame.