MPs discuss fuel poverty

UKParliament

On Wednesday 3 February from 9.30am, MPs will discuss fuel poverty.

The debate will be led by Derek Thomas, Conservative MP for St Ives.



Watch the session in full on Parliament TV.

lstar337

Is there much point when they have no idea what poverty is?

Smiley_Dan

At a guess there'll be a lot of discussion about energy company tariffs and very little about building houses properly so we don't even *need* to switch energy companies.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

Inflation has been zero or below on Energy bills - and that's quite something given the "rip-off" reputation they have. Meanwhile, we have seen consistent wage growth.

Therefore, what on earth are they discussing, that hasn't already been covered? There is no reason, other than irresponsibility, that anyone should be in fuel poverty now that wasn't before the general election.

UKParliament

The House of Commons Library has produced a debate pack titled 'Debate Pack: Fuel Poverty'.

The House of Commons Library produces research briefings which provide in-depth and impartial analysis of all major pieces of legislation, as well as many areas of policy, and cover frequently asked questions and topical issues.

Smiley_Dan

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays wrote: »

Inflation has been zero or below on Energy bills - and that's quite something given the "rip-off" reputation they have. Meanwhile, we have seen consistent wage growth.

Therefore, what on earth are they discussing, that hasn't already been covered? There is no reason, other than irresponsibility, that anyone should be in fuel poverty now that wasn't before the general election.

It might shock you out of your leather armchair but broad brush measurements like inflation don't necessarily affect everyone in exactly the same way, nor do they guarantee deterministic outcomes.

The real scandal is the quality of the UK housing stock, and the fact that we are STILL allowing housebuilders to build so poorly.

Even those lentil munchers at Policy Exchange agree with me! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35459447

System

Sites such as MSE and Govt-funded advertising etc promote greater switching, yet people are afraid of taking the plunge when there are £00s per year to be saved. MPs need to ask why? Why should the less well off pay more for their energy than they need to?

The answer is simple. Switching suppliers is easy; unfortunately, the industry practices behind the scenes are more suited to a 3rd World Country than a dynamic, well-educated Society.

I have just spent the morning trying to resolve a final bill from a supplier. My new supplier confirmed that the switch had gone ahead, that my meter reading had been accepted and the old supplier informed. When I contacted my old supplier, I was informed that as my property is supplied by an IGT, it can take 12 weeks for a switch of supplier to take place. When I asked him to check, I was told that the switch had taken place on the agreed date but the supply had not transferred for a further 16 days. Fortunately, the gaining supplier was very much on the ball, and the losing supplier eventually agreed the date of switch and the meter reading.

My point in raising this is simple: why is it so difficult to get good service and accurate billing out of energy suppliers? People on low incomes do not want to run the risk of uncertainty; they do not want to wait for refunds, or pay 2 suppliers for the same energy whilst the suppliers are engaged in a 12 week dispute (in accordance with industry procedures - so often quoted). In sum, better the devil and all that so they do not switch.

In sum, rather than just throwing money at improving poor housing stock let us start by making Ofgem ( the worst kind of toothless tiger) stand up to the plate. They need to take a hard look at the so called industry procedures and give people confidence in the switching and billing process. Fines should be fines: not voluntary offers of tax deductible contributions to Ofgem's chosen charities, and suppliers who underperform should have their licences revoked.

Richie-from-the-Boro

It will never happen, bankers and bean counters run all of this country - have done for more than 50 years. Politicians got into bed with the big 6 in a big way when they transferred tax collection [for example green tax's] to the energy suppliers - its payback time. Politicians will do nothing / can do nothing, never have, never will. The can have another bit of a debate / another bit of long grass / another bit of obfuscation / then yet another bit of the merry~go~round debate. 60% of the nation do not and never have switched. They continue to pay for those 40% like me who benefit from the 'stickies' with lower tariff's.

Smiley_Dan

Quite right Richie. In my view, energy companies shouldn't be involved with ECO etc. It's counter to their business, and it will inevitably compromise the targets for the schemes. As usual with Government, they see a large company and they just see "free money", they don't understand the long term.

What they should be doing is something more like the Germans - allow the GIB to loan to domestic projects, 1% ish rates of interest. Pay for everyone else to upgrade their homes in a grand infrastructure project.

Instead we get 15mins faster train times from London to Birmingham. Learn to love it, proles!

Richie-from-the-Boro

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Quite right Richie. In my view, energy companies shouldn't be involved with ECO etc. It's counter to their business, and it will inevitably compromise the targets for the schemes. As usual with Government, they see a large company and they just see "free money", they don't understand the long term.

What they should be doing is something more like the Germans - allow the GIB to loan to domestic projects, 1% ish rates of interest. Pay for everyone else to upgrade their homes in a grand infrastructure project.

Instead we get 15mins faster train times from London to Birmingham. Learn to love it, proles!

Palming taxation off on utilities is a common political preference, that way the company gets the blame. BBC with supply of Licences for the over 70's TV's, Broadband to an obscure 100 residents on a planet far away in Northumberland is uneconomic but its a requirement of the politicians for which in return weak consumer protection leading to higher prices for all., etc etc.