Help with energy bills- 2 million homes will save up to £300
12th September 2008
Alan has welcomed the government's announcement of a £1 billion package of measures to help Southampton families permanently cut their energy bills. These include:
- Every household in Southampton is now eligible for at least 50% off loft and cavity wall insulation;
- All pensioners over 70 and everyone on certain benefits can get these for free:
- Cold weather payments for the most vulnerable will be increased from £8.50 to £25 a week.
- A new £350 million Community Energy Saving Programme will be launched in around 100 fuel-poor areas to go street-by-street through communities offering free and discounted central heating and energy efficiency measures.
The announcement follows many months of campaigning by Alan for greater action on fuel poverty. In March he urged Gordon Brown, at Prime Minister’s Question Time to ensure energy companies spent more on social programmes, and received a guarantee from Gordon Brown that the government will do its best for people suffering, or at risk, from fuel poverty.
In January Alan made a parliamentary speech in which he called on the government to do more to help people out of fuel poverty through targeted benefits and energy efficiency measures.
Dr Whitehead is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group, and as a Southampton Councillor, he introduced and obtained funding for Southampton’s geothermal power plant after the government of the day had pulled the plug on funding for the project, which now provides clean, cheap energy and heating to much of Southampton. Dr Whitehead has also taken up the 25/5 challenge to cut his carbon emissions by 25% over 5 years, and through installing cavity wall insulation, recycling or reusing, and energy saving light bulbs he reduced his carbon footprint by 8.2% in 2005-6.
Alan Whitehead said:
“I am delighted that government pressure on the energy companies has encouraged them to step up to their responsibilities and do more to ensure that no-one is left in the situation of not being able to afford to heat their homes. The measures announced today provide immediate help for the most vulnerable and will help everyone reduce permanently their fuel bills through energy efficiency - better insulated homes mean lower bills.”
What do you think about this story? Email Alan
More information
- By calling the Act on CO2 helpline on 0800 512 012, everyone can find out about the offers that are available in their local area