Government: Lack of cheap energy could result in fuel poverty for 25% of homes - 22/10/2009

With both business energy and domestic costs rising, the latest government projections suggest 25 per cent of UK homeowners could be living in fuel poverty this year.

Research from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) shows prices from energy suppliers rose by 80 per cent between 2004 and 2007, resulting in a doubling in the number of fuel poor households to four million, reports the Telegraph.

The DECC predicts this figure could rise to 4.6 million in England by the end of this year, while Consumer Focus believes the total UK figure could be as high as 6.6 million.

Charles Hendry, energy spokesman for the Conservatives, told the paper: "The number of people living in fuel poverty has tripled in the last five years, yet warm words are all ministers have offered the millions of families who are falling into debt to heat their homes."

Energy minister David Kidney said the government has made progress, but acknowledged "there is still a mountain to climb."

All the major energy companies have implemented low-key price reductions in recent months and homeowners could switch gas and electricity suppliers in pursuit of better prices.

If you want to find out more about business energy and how you could save up to 50 per cent on your business energy bills, click here.