-€œExtending the gas network provides a cost effective way to tackle fuel poverty-€Â, claims former Minister
30/05/2017 Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA)
"Households are 50 per cent more likely to be in fuel poverty if they aren't connected to gas and that is a fact that can no longer be ignored" says Mike Foster, former Government Minister and cur-rent Chief Executive of the Energy and Utilities Alliance, as he delivered his speech at Utility Week Live on 23rd May 2017 at the NEC in Birmingham.Mr Foster Chaired the 'Meeting the needs of vulnerable customers' seminar which explored best practice examples of understanding and vulnerable customers and delivery of the right service and support. The seminar also examined how energy efficiency measures can be focused on the poorest households.
Mr Foster's matter-of-fact speech illustrated the stark reality of living in a cold, energy inefficient home.
"In 2014/15 there were in excess of 40,000 preventable deaths associated with winter. In 2015/16 there were 41% more deaths from respiratory disease in winter compared to warmer seasons. Cold living conditions are one of the triggers of such diseases.
Heat and health are intrinsically linked. Something must be done address this. EUA's report; Fuel Poverty- A Connected Solution, published in January uses complex statistical methods to identify that connection to the gas grid is the best way the energy industry can help people out of fuel pov-erty, providing the biggest reductions in their bills compared to the costs incurred."
"Simply helping people to switch from electric heating to gas central heating, will lift them out of fuel poverty by cutting bills by over £900 a year."
"With so many homes close to the underground gas network, connection to the gas grid and in-stalling first-time central heating, funded by schemes such as ECO could make a real impact in lifting up to half a million homes out of fuel poverty."
"Our gas networks are essential in providing affordable energy, securely, to the vast majority of UK homes. And with the right Government direction, could change the lives of hundreds of thou-sands of families who today juggle between heating and eating."
For more information, please contact:
Energy & Utilities Alliance (EUA)
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