Lack of cheap energy leaving many Norwich pensioners in fuel poverty - 02/03/2009
Although many UK homeowners could opt to switch gas and electricity companies, the lack of home insulation is being used to explain fuel poverty figures among pensioners in Norwich.
Norwich Evening News 24 reports that around 14,000 households in Norwich are living in fuel poverty, a figure which surpasses the regional average, and pensioners comprise a large proportion of those affected.
Local Liberal Democrat MPs have called for backing for a local fuel poverty bill and for better information to be made available to pensioners explaining exactly what benefits they are entitled to.
Phil Wells, chief executive of Age Concern Norwich, told the website: "Elderly people are likelier to be fuel poor because they often live alone in old homes that aren't properly insulated."
Mr Wells also called for the government to increase state pensions so that pensioners have better access to cheap energy rates.
The government said that winter fuel payments have risen to help tackle the problem of rising fuel costs.
Energy efficiency has been put forward as the best way to both reduce household bills and cut down on carbon emissions.
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