U.K. Energy Companies to Help the Poor Handle High Fuel Costs
Friday, April 11th, 2008The U.K.’s six largest energy companies have agreed in a government-brokered deal to assist the lowest-income earners to deal with increasing fuel costs.
Centrica Plc, EDF Energy Plc, E.ON AG, RWE Npower Plc, Scottish & Southern Energy Plc, and Scottish Power Plc will spend 225 million pounds ($443.9 million) over the next three years to offset bills, install energy-efficient insulation and provide other services, according to an e-mailed statement by U.K. Business Secretary John Hutton.
The Office of Gas & Electricity Markets, the U.K.’s energy regulator, will monitor the suppliers’ progress.
One consumer-protection activist said the measures won’t address the fact that many poor people in the U.K. use pre- payment meters for their heating fuel.
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