Cheap energy to tackle fuel poverty 'not very close' for consumers - 25/06/2009
People looking to switch energy companies in pursuit of lower prices may be dismayed to hear the government has admitted it may not reach its fuel poverty target.
The government has pledged to completely eradicate fuel poverty by 2016, but given a range of factors including the surge in energy prices throughout 2008, it is increasingly unlikely this promise will be fulfilled, reports myfinances.co.uk.
A review is due to be published in the next few months to evaluate the extent of the problem and discuss new ways to reduce the number of people struggling with their bills.
According to the website, David Kidney, junior secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, told a work and pensions committee: "We're not very close at all. We're going the wrong direction at this moment, having been blown off course by the energy price rises between 2004 and 2008."
All the major energy companies lifted their prices last year, blaming spikes in the wholesale market.
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