Government will not be forced to tackle energy supplier prices - 04/08/2009
Homeowners looking to compare energy prices may be disappointed to hear that the government will not be forced to meet fuel poverty eradication promises.
Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged took the government to court to try to force energy secretary Ed Miliband to reach fuel poverty reduction targets pledged for 2010 and 2016, but three Court of Appeal judges ruled in the government's favour, reports 24dash.com.
The ruling acknowledged that cost remains a key consideration in tackling fuel poverty and so the government can only be expected to get as close as possible to its targets.
According to the website, Lord Justice Maurice Kay said: "In my judgment, having regard to the unanticipated scale of the increase in fuel prices, I do not consider that the secretary of state was in error if he considered reasonable practicability at least to some extent by reference to departmental budgets."
Friends of the Earth told the website the ruling is "extremely disappointing" owing to the number of people still living in fuel poverty.
Several energy suppliers were criticised for failing to reduce their prices during the winter months earlier this year.
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