Comment: New energy advice plan is welcome (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Comment: New energy advice plan is welcome
2:41pm Friday 20th July 2012 in Opinion
RISING fuel and energy costs have become a huge worry in many households. Families and pensioners are really struggling as the recession fails to go away and unemployment increases.
In Blackburn with Darwen borough, for example, one in five households are officially classed as being ‘fuel poor’ because more than 10 per cent of their income is being spent on keeping an adequate level of warmth, not to mention cooking.
Lack of cash for such basics puts the most vulnerable groups, children and the elderly, at risk of suffering poor health because of cold, damp conditions.
Trying to keep homes warm isn’t made any easier by the maze of different payment methods and tariffs promoted by various energy and power suppliers.
Now recognising the link between heating and health, a £47,000 pilot scheme is being launched in one area of Blackburn to give people the information they need.
The 18-month project will provide advice on saving energy, heating and insulation grants as well as showing people how to budget and therefore avoid borrowing and going deep into debt.
It is common sense that is sorely needed.
