Somerset Fuel Poverty Partnership is calling on the Government to back a home insulation scheme that could make a real difference to people's lives.

The Partnership - a consortium of Somerset County Council, the District Councils, the Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol, Age Concern Somerset and the Primary Care Trust - is writing to Ed Milliband, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, asking for his support in the campaign.

The Partnership is backing a call for a massive investment programme to insulate half of all homes in England and Wales via a £500 million contribution from energy suppliers.

The scheme could lift 500,000 people out of fuel poverty, knock £200 a year off the energy bills of 10 million households and cut domestic carbon emissions by 20 per cent.

-- Advertisement --

Funding would come from the six, main energy companies matching pound for pound the existing contributions from householders, raising an extra £500 million a year. Under the proposals put forward by the Local Government Association (LGA), energy watchdog Ofgem would prevent the firms from passing on the charges to their customers.

In his letter to Mr Milliband, David Baxter, chair of Somerset Fuel Poverty Partnership, said: "Measures such as the winter allowance obviously help those who are particularly vulnerable, but what is needed are long-term measures to reduce energy use and improve the housing stock.

"Despite rising fuel costs, take-up of the schemes run by energy suppliers is low due to consumer mistrust. A cross-party group of MPs has backed the LGA's proposals that councils should instead take the lead."

The Partnership was officially launched in early October and brings together representatives from the county’s five district councils, Mendip, Sedgemoor, Taunton Deane, South Somerset and West Somerset, Somerset County Council, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, Age Concern Somerset and the Somerset PCT.

(JM)