Campaigners call for action over fuel poverty (From Haringey Independent)

'Bills are too high' - Campaigners call for action over fuel poverty in Haringey

3:36pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News By Bruce Thain

Campaigners today called for action against rising fuel bills that they say are leaving people in the cold.

Haringey residents joined members of Haringey Solidarity and Fuel Poverty Action outside Wood Green Library in a protest against high gas and electricity bills.

The day of action coincides with a national campaign called Stop the Great Fuel Robbery calling for government to take action against energy company and help reduce fuel bills.

Mother-of-four Felicia Brown, of White Hart Lane, said: “The bills are so high and I’m trying to not to use my heating as much.

“If it is a cold night I have to really think if it is worth putting the heating on because I may not be able to afford food later in the week.”

Jon Stevenson of Fuel Poverty Action and Haringey Solidarity spoke to people about their fuel problems.

He said: “There will be a real problem for people living in Haringey with their bills going up.

“Bills are too high as it is and the government is not doing enough to help people who are falling into fuel poverty.

“Profits for energy companies getting higher and higher but the bills for consumers are also going up and it is not fair.”

Janet Shapiro from the Haringey Pensioners action group said: “It is an area of real concern for a lot of people.

“A big issue is that there is not enough help for people to upgrade their home to make them more energy efficient in this area.”

Fuel poverty is defined as where ten per cent or more of a household’s income is spent on energy bills.

According to a London Assembly health report into the effects, 13 out of the 19 wards in Haringey will be affected by fuel poverty.

Tomorrow, members of the Fuel Poverty action will be marching to the Department of Energy and Climate Change in central London to call for action to help reduce bills.