Energy Bill Revolution calls for carbon tax to be used to make homes super-energy efficient
Centrica, the owner of British Gas, today announced that energy prices will increase this year. They have reported that wholesale gas prices for next winter will be 15% higher. This increase will plunge yet more households into fuel poverty.
The Energy Bill Revolution is an alliance of over 80 leading charities, unions and businesses calling on the Government to use carbon tax revenue to make UK households super-energy efficient. George Osborne will raise more than £2 billion in carbon revenue next year, with the Treasury raking in £4 billion each year by 2020 and £7 billion by 2027. This is enough revenue to super insulate more than 600,000 homes every year over the next 15 years. It could bring 9 out of 10 homes out of fuel poverty, quadruple carbon emission cuts compared to the Government’s energy efficiency policies and create up to 200,000 more jobs.
Ed Matthew, Director of Transform UK, who is co-ordinating the campaign said: “Energy bills are set to rise again, inflicting yet more pain and suffering on British households. Making homes super-energy efficient is the only permanent and most effective solution to ending fuel poverty and bringing down bills. The scandal of people dying from the cold and children shivering in their homes in the 7th richest economy in the world must end. George Osborne can solve this crisis once and for all by ploughing back carbon tax revenues into household energy efficiency. It is the fair and just solution This is the true test of whether George Osborne is serious about wanting to help households bring down their energy bills.”
The Energy Bill Revolution has calculated that 6.4 million households across the UK are now in fuel poverty, needing to spend more than 10% of their income on energy to keep warm. This could increase to 9.1 million households by 2016 if gas prices continue to rise in line with Government expectations.
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For more information contact:
Ed Matthew
Director
Transform UK
Investment for a clean energy future
Tel: 07827 157906
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