A HUGE leap in the number of families too poor to heat their homes across the region has left a flagship Government pledge to end the scandal in tatters.

The Northern Echo: Fuel poverty figures

Labour’s efforts were branded embarrassing after the number of households living in fuel poverty in the North-East and North Yorkshire rocketed by 142 per cent in only three years.

A total of 177,021 families were struggling to pay their heating bills in 2006, the most recent available statistics – up from 73,100 in 2003.

In Teesdale, more one than in four homes – 28.2 per cent – are in fuel poverty, with other blackspots in Ryedale (19.9 per cent), Wear Valley (18.4 per cent), Easington (18 per cent) and Derwentside (17.7 per cent).

Worse, the figures are likely to drastically underestimate the crisis – because of the soaring cost of fuel and the impact of the recession since they were calculated.

Across England, 2.4m households were fuel poor in 2006, spending at least ten per cent of income on energy bills, but that figure is predicted to reach 4.6m by the end of this year.

The consequences are seen in the 40,000 excess deaths every winter, compared with the warmer summer months – a far worse record than other European countries.

Andrew Harrop, head of policy for Age Concern, said: “The human cost of fuel poverty is great, particularly among vulnerable older people.

“To end the misery and ensure people are warmer and happier, the Government must commit to making the country’s entire housing stock energy efficient and to increase the warm front budget next year.”

The new figures reflect badly on the Government’s targets to end fuel poverty in vulnerable households – those with children, elderly people or the longterm sick – by next year and in all households by 2016.

In response, energy minister David Kidney admitted the Government had a mountain to climb on fuel poverty, but strongly defended its record. He pointed to:

● Tougher obligations on energy companies to help the most vulnerable, such as poorer, older pensioners;
● Street-by-street help in lowincome neighbourhoods, offering whole house energy makeovers to 90,000 homes, saving families about £300 per year on energy bills.
● A plan to impose a legal requirement on energy companies to keep down bills for the most vulnerable, replacing a voluntary agreement;
● A plan to give watchdog Ofgem new powers to police abuses and ensure energy companies pass on wholesale price reductions as far and as quickly as possible.

Mr Kidney said: “We recognise there is still a mountain to climb on fuel poverty because of significant increases in fuel bills, and that’s why we’re determined to redouble our efforts.”

Yesterday, the Citizens Advice Bureau revealed the number of people contacting it for advice after falling behind with fuel bills had soared by 46 per cent in the past six months.

David Harker, its chief executive, warned: “We are already seeing large increases in the number of people in fuel debt – and it is not yet winter.”