The Big Six energy companies and the government are ripping us off, leaving millions throughout the UK facing an impossible choice between heating and eating every the winter.
The UK is suffering the worst levels of fuel poverty in Western Europe, with one person dying of cold every six minutes in England and Wales during the winter of 2012/13. We’re all affected by this injustice, particularly those living the most precarious lives, including pensioners, young children, disabled people, the sick and ill, students and others on low incomes.
But as we freeze in our homes, the government are cutting the benefits and services we all rely on, while the profits of the Big Six energy companies – British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Npower, Scottish Power and SSE – have soared to record highs. This isn’t a coincidence. It’s a robbery.
Fuel bills are soaring out of control because of the rocketing cost of fossil fuel energy, particularly gas — and because of spiralling energy company profits.
The solutions are out there. Insulation and home energy efficiency would keep our homes warm, while clean energy, generated from the wind, the sun and the waves would bring our bills down. These solutions would also protect our environment and help tackle climate change, which is already causing flooding and extreme weather in the UK and across the world.
But the Big Six bullies have bought off our politicians to block these solutions, placing their staff to work inside government departments and pushing the government into cutting support for insulation and clean energy. Expensive, polluting fossil fuels and cold, leaky homes are what works best for the Big Six’s dirty business plans, nevermind the deadly human cost.
We refuse to freeze in our homes any longer. Fuel Poverty Action are going after thieving energy companies and politicians to assert our rights to warm homes and clean, affordable energy, controlled by people and communities, not greedy companies.
Want to join us? Find out how you can get involved.
Want to know more about the solutions? Read about 6 ways to fight fuel poverty’.