Press release

Energy price hikes - efficiency is the solution

21 August 2008

Responding to the news today (Thursday 21 August 2008) that E.On has announced a huge price hike on electricity and gas, Ed Matthew, Friends of the Earth's Head of UK Climate, said:

"The shocking price hikes this summer are nothing short of a national disaster that will leave more than five million households unable to afford to heat their homes this winter."

"The only way to fully protect people from ever-rising global fuel prices is to ensure that every home in the UK is super-insulated and has access to green energy systems. Fuel bills and carbon emissions in UK homes could be slashed by two thirds as a result."

"Friends of the Earth will pursue with vigour our Judicial Review with Help the Aged, challenging the Government's abject failure to meet its clear legal requirements on fuel poverty."

Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged are calling on the Government to:

Clearly set out how it will meet its legal obligation to eliminate fuel poverty, what the costs will be and how its plans will be funded;
To accurately identify all households suffering from fuel poverty;
Recognise that ensuring high levels of energy efficiency and installing renewable energy systems provides the key long-term solution to ending fuel poverty;
Set a minimum standard of energy efficiency for all households being treated for fuel poverty;
Set up low-carbon home zones in every local authority in the UK in areas where fuel poverty is concentrated. The fuel-poor households in these zones should be treated street by street, house by house to achieve the requisite energy efficiency standard.

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust

Press release

Energy price hikes - efficiency is the solution

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