
Responding to the government's announcement of its new fuel poverty initiative, uSwitch has commented that while the scheme is welcomed, it does not go far enough to rectify of the 500,000 plunged into fuel poverty by the recent price hikes.
Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch, said: "If it was spread across the whole 4.5 million households in fuel poverty it would amount to less than £18 a year, which is a drop in the ocean when consumers are facing average fuel bills of £1,048 a year."
She added that the inadequacy of the new initiative was the clearest signal yet that consumers would not be able to rely on the government to protect them from fuel hikes enacted by all the major energy providers.
Ms Robinson advised customers looking to make a saving to switch suppliers to take advantage of cheaper deals.
Elsewhere, moneysupermarket.com has urged consumers to contact their suppliers to see if they are entitled to a discount under the new social assistance program, which will be enacted by all major suppliers.
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