LONDON (AFP) — Ministers and consumer groups are meeting Wednesday to help 4.5million "fuel poor" who struggle to pay their gas and electricity bills.
Ofgem, the energy regulator, has organised a roundtable meeting with ministers, industry figures and charities to discuss ways to help people who are struggling to pay rising utility bills.
The term "fuel poverty" is used when a household spends more than ten percent of its income on energy bills. Charities have warned that pensioners and lone parents are particularly vulnerable.
Age Concern, the Child Poverty Action Group and National Energy Action, said that almost one in five households, or 4.5 million people, were now affected.
According to their figures, the average fuel bill for 65 to 74-year-olds has leapt to 1,000 pounds, a rise of 15 percent for a single pensioner.
The government claims to have introduced measures to tackle fuel poverty, including winter fuel payments for pensioners, and energy companies are required to invest one billion pounds into making low income households more energy efficient.
The energy summit is expected be attended by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks and Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.
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