2011年11月27日 星期日

Bleak winter in store for vulnerable as energy prices sore

A BLEAK winter is in store for the most vulnerable in our society as energy prices soar.

Energy experts have issued warnings as rocketing fuel prices could equal miserable winter months for millions, in particular pensioners and single-parent families.They take the China Porcelain tile to the local co-op market.

Rising wholesale costs could mean electricity prices shoot up by 60% with gas increases of up to 54%.

But these increasing bills come at a time when it has been revealed bosses at the big six energy suppliers took home collective earnings of more than 10m just as they were implementing price rises for millions of consumers last winter.

EDF Energy, led by chief executive Vincent de Rivaz, gave its highest-paid employee a 30% rise to 1.If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards,3m.

Campaigners branded the wages paid as “outrageous.”

Going hand-in-hand with rising energy prices are predictions that this winter is due to be the harshest one in years.

Weather experts have warned to expect well below average temperatures and widespread snowfall.

With these changes,Your source for re-usable Plastic moulds of strong latex rubber. fuel poverty numbers have spiraled with 6.Your Partner in Precision Precision injection molds.9 million people, or 27% of households, now affected.ceramic magic cube for the medical,

Pensioners are one of the worst-hit groups with an increasing number of deaths from the cold each year.

Along with rising energy costs pensioners have also been hit by a cut in their winter fuel allowance this year since the Conservative Government came into power.

Susan Neill, affordable warmth advisor for Age UK Darlington, said she had noticed a marked increase in the number of concerned pensioners and families coming to use her service, seeking advice on rising energy bills and how to deal with the cuts in winter fuel allowance.

“I think it is really unfair because a lot of people do depend on that and people have been coming in saying they are cutting that and asking if it will eventually go. And people are worried winter fuel allowance will stop altogether,” she said.

Susan also branded the pay packets of energy company bosses as “outrageous”.

“They are making money out of people who are the most vulnerable.

“They make more and more money while the poorest in society are struggling more and more each year,” she said.

Susan said her office in Beaumont Street in Darlington had seen an increase in the number of worried pensioners coming in with questions about how they would pay their energy bills and complaining about cuts in winter fuel allowance.

“Since the fuel increases we have had a lot more people than the last year so we offer this free service in Darlington which is open to anyone, that offers all households free advice on fuel and energy related issues.

“The people coming into us at the moment tend to be worried about putting the heating on because they feel at the end of the winter they will be left with a huge heating bill.

“We try and look at ways they can get on to a tariff were it will be cheaper for them.

“I think pensioners are struggling, even those who have a little bit above the ordinary pension. Even those people are coming in saying they do not know what to do.”

She added that from August 2010 to the end of November 2010 they dealt with 95 individuals seeking help with energy bills, but from August 2011 until so far this month they have already seen 137 people come through their doors.

“It has just come as a shock to people. It does make me angry and you feel sorry for them because, for a lot of people, it is not only fuel, but other general living expenses.

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