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Power firms 'should play their part in helping poor'

A new scheme from the government, doubling energy firms' environmental duty to consumers, will see UK power suppliers divert £3 billion of profits into helping customers save gas and electricity and cut bills.

The extra funds will pay for extra home insulation and anti-standby devices - and the over-70s are expected to be particular beneficiaries, the Observer reports.

Earlier this year, government figures had shown that around 4.5 million households in the UK are suffering from 'fuel poverty' - meaning that over ten per cent of income is being spent on gas and electricity.

Citing high wholesale prices, every major energy provider has recently raised the costs of their general plans by around fifteen per cent - a move which seems sure to exacerbate the problem.

Announcing the new scheme, environment secretary Hilary Benn said: "It's right that energy companies should play their part in cutting carbon emissions - that's why we are introducing this requirement.

"It's particularly important that, in addition to doubling the requirement for energy companies, 40 per cent of energy savings will have to be made among a priority group, which includes those on low incomes and the elderly."

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