Nuclear power 'vital' to prevent fuel poverty - 03/01/2012
A greater investment in nuclear power will be essential in order to prevent large numbers of people having difficulty finding cheap electricity deals.
According to a report by the Centre for Policy Studies, one in three households could face the prospect of fuel poverty without investment in sources such as nuclear power.
Many of the UK's existing nuclear facilities are set to close in the next few years and if the gap is filled with gas-fired stations, the country will be dependent on the fossil fuel for 80 per cent of its electricity needs by 2025.
The study's author Tony Lodge said: "Britain risks becoming yet more dependent on foreign gas and unmanageable renewable energy to generate electricity."
This will lead to rising domestic energy bills at a time of falling household earnings, he continued.
Last week, the Asda Income Tracker noted disposable income fell by 8.4 per cent year-on-year in November, driven by higher gas and electricity prices.
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