More than 54,000 households are set to be left in the cold after a Government deal with the big energy companies reduced the number of homes the energy giants have to insulate. The figures, based on a survey of 146 local authorities undertaken by Labour, show that in total 49 schemes have been scrapped or put on hold because of the Government’s changes to the Energy Company Obligation – despite ministers claiming that the changes were “very good news for people in fuel poverty”.   

Caroline Flint MP, Labour’s Shadow Energy and Climate Change Secretary, who uncovered the figures, said:

“There’s a cost-of-living crisis in Britain, but David Cameron always stands up for the privileged few. Thousands of households will be left in the cold because of the Government’s dirty deal with the energy companies. The best way to cut people’s energy bills is to invest in insulation and save the energy that escapes through our windows, walls and rooftops. But instead of making the energy companies honour their obligations, David Cameron has let them off the hook.

“Worst of all, even though the energy companies now have to help fewer households, they’ve still been allowed to hike up people’s bills. This shows why nothing less than a price freeze and action to reset the market to stop the energy companies overcharging again in the future will do.”

ENDS