Figures show 4.5 million living in fuel poverty

摘要

The number of fuel poor households in 2013 was estimated at around 4.5 million representing 17% of all UK households, according to the latest Department for Energy & Climate Change's Annual Fuel Poverty report. This is a small increase from 2012 levels of 1%. In 2010 fuel poverty fell for the first time since 2003, due to rising energy efficiency standards, particularly among lower income households, and a fall in fuel prices. However, in 2011 fuel prices began to rise again, the report explained, resulting in the 2013 fuel poverty increase. As fuel prices continue to fluctuate, this trend is of ongoing concern to lower income families. Jenny Saunders OBE, chief executive of National Energy Action, responded by saying: "We know the cost and suffering caused by fuel poverty is grave and likely to increase in the future without more adequate national and UK wide responses.