Energy firms still need to do more to help customers

After months of being informed that they were being subjected to the highest utilities bills in the whole of Western Europe, British consumers are unlikely to welcome the news that UK suppliers are still failing to tackle the problem of fuel poverty.

While the recent price cuts announced by a number of the 'Big Six' have gone down relatively well with consumer groups, many of whom point out that substantial savings can be made by households who shop around and switch suppliers, some still argue that more needs to be done to help the most vulnerable.

Indeed, according to a new report in the Daily Telegraph, the typical household is likely to see their annual gas and electricity bill fall by just £60 as a result of these new reductions.

Though any money off is good news for consumers, this nevertheless represents a small fraction of the amount bills have risen by over the past few months, meaning millions of old people, as well as those on low incomes, could fall into the dangerous trap of fuel poverty, whereby more than ten per cent of their annual income goes on paying for their utilities.

Highlighting the extent of the problem, figures recently released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that energy prices in Britain have increased by 16.7 per cent over the past year alone.

This dwarves the increases seen elsewhere in Europe, where the average increase is just 3.8 per cent over the same period, with German households now being asked to pay just 1.5 per cent more for their gas and electricity than this time last year.

Arguing the case for more government intervention, Jonathan Stearn, of fuel poverty campaigner Consumer Focus, told the paper: "It's time we put an end to the devastating impact that high energy prices have on vulnerable households and people living on low incomes."

Alongside switching energy suppliers, the elderly have been advised to seek advice regarding their utilities bills, with most firms offering significant discounts for those most in need.

What's more, those Britons with elderly parents have been urged to help them with their energy bills, with a significant proportion of pensioners unable to shop around for the best deals as they cannot get online, while many have never been used to the concept of switching suppliers and so will remain blindly loyal to one company for years, regardless of how much more this costs them.

Above all, however, charities urge pensioners to remain warm and not run the risk of turning off their heating simply to save a few pounds.