SFHA Welcomes Fuel Poverty Help as “Step in Right Direction”

Written by Claire Munro Wednesday, 16 November 2011 13:43

The SFHA has welcomed today's (Wednesday 16th November) news that Scotland's six leading energy providers have pledged to help vulnerable customers transfer to their most cost-saving tariff (1), as "a step in the right direction."

The SFHA is a member of the Scottish Government's Fuel Poverty Forum which is currently undertaking a review of the Government's strategy.

David Stewart, SFHA Policy & Strategy Manager said:

"The SFHA welcomes the news that energy companies are to help vulnerable customers switch to cheaper, fairer tariffs as a step in the right direction.

"We have long been calling for a replacement for the social housing tariff that vulnerable and poor people can sign up to. Recently the good work done by housing associations and co-operatives to improve the energy efficiency of their homes has been undone by inflation-busting increases in domestic energy prices.

"But to make a real difference to fuel poverty we also need to see reductions in tariffs on pre-payment meters long term sustainable investment to improve the energy efficiency of existing housing through an area based retrofit programme."

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For further information, contact Claire Munro on t: 0141 567 6224 m: 07771926778 or e: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Visit our website at www.sfha.co.uk

NOTES:

1) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2011/11/16125530

2) The SFHA was established in 1975 and has around 170 members providing affordable housing and wider community services in Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial members. The SFHA is owned by its membership and exists to support the work of housing associations and co-operatives in Scotland by providing services, advice and good practice guidance.

3) The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing Associations own and manage around 40% of the country's affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.

4) Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator.