South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Reduce bills for low-income homes' - Maskey

Published: 31 March, 2010

South Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Alex Maskey has said that energy companies are to come under renewed pressure to introduce social tariffs to reduce bills for vulnerable customers.

The South Belfast MLA was speaking after the Consumer Council confirmed that in intends to commission new research on the extent of fuel poverty and the cost of implementing such tariffs where fuel companies subsidise reduced bills for low-income households.

Alex Maskey MLA said,

"I would like to welcome this intervention by the consumer council because the introduction of social tariffs are something that Sinn Féin has been pressing for some time.

"Fuel poverty in the North is estimated to be at 40 percent - compared with the 2006 levels in England of 12%, 23% in Scotland and 21% in Wales.

"Despite this, social tariffs were introduced in Britain five years ago to compel energy companies to redirect a percentage of their vast profits in order to reduce bills for the most vulnerable households.

"It is absolutely scandalous that social tariffs have been introduced in Britain where fuel poverty is only a fraction of the problem it is here, yet similar steps have not been taken in the North of Ireland.

"That is simply unacceptable and highlights the need for greater control on the energy industry here. People have a right to heat their homes and feed their families and I am again calling on the energy regulator to introduce social tariffs to assist the most vulnerable energy consumers." CRÍOCH