Brown to ease energy bills

Source: Energy Digital

Date :10/09/2008 09:28:55

A government strategy to help reduce energy bills for 11 million homes will likely be announced tomorrow.

Utility companies will fund most of an additional £1 billion for energy efficiency measures over the next three years, Gordon Brown is likely to announce.

About four million of Britain’s poorest households, people over 70 and people on benefit will be eligible for free loft and cavity insulation.

More affluent households, yet to be defined, will be able to claim discounts on household improvements designed to reduce energy consumption.

Those demanding a windfall tax to pay for immediate help for families to meet rising bills this winter will not be satisfied by the news.

Alistair Darling, the Chancellor, faced a hostile reception yesterday from trade unionists in Brighton, where the TUC conference was dominated by soaring energy bills and energy companies’ profits.