Caoline Lucas MEP

Leader of the Green Party Caroline Lucas has called on energy companies to reduce bills for pensioners and those on low incomes.

Ms Lucas, Green Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Pavilion, and MEP for the South East said:
"As the traditional season of goodwill is upon us, and some families gather together to feast and celebrate, urgent action is needed to bring 2.5 million pensioners out of fuel poverty.
 
“With the Met Office predicting the coldest winter since 1995/96, many pensioners are, once again, facing the ‘eat or heat’ dilemma.  Last winter saw 36,700 excess winter deaths, an increase of nearly 50 per cent on the previous year and the highest for a decade. Of those who died, 29,400 were aged 75 or more.
 
“We believe the energy companies should automatically offer older people on low incomes lower social tariffs to help bring bills down. In addition, the Government should make more funding available to insulate the homes of pensioners and others on low incomes – an initiative that would also create jobs and cut carbon emissions. The work should be funded by a windfall tax on the energy suppliers, who are making record profits on consumer bills, according to ofgem.
 
“Average household energy bills have more than doubled in the past five years, and energy costs are likely to rise alarmingly in 2011/12 through the combination of economic recovery, declining North Sea oil and gas reserves, increased investment in energy infrastructure and an anticipated increase in carbon prices through the European emissions trading scheme.

“We need action now to reduce this avoidable winter death toll among older people. It really is a matter of life and death.”

For more information about the Greens view: www.brightonandhovegreenparty.org.uk