Help Ensure UK Families Have a Warm Home This Winter!
As a result of poor corporate policies, low-income families often pay more for utilities than families who are more well off. This means many parents in low income families must make the daily choice between a hot meal for their children or a hot bath.
This is unacceptable, and energy companies have had the chance to voluntarily help these families, but five out of the six companies have failed to do so. In order for this injustice to be remedied, the government must make low-income families eligible for the "Warm Home Discount" -- a program that can help families save up to £130 a year on their energy costs.
Low-income families have paid too much for too long. Help us reach our new goal of 10,000 signatures! Please tell Chris Huhne, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, to ensure that low-income families are included in the "Warm Home Discount" program.
Dear Secretary Huhne,
For too long, low income families have paid more on their energy bills (which include heating and water) than their more wealthy peers. Families in poverty deserve to be treated equally and should not have to pay a poverty premium. The price of fuel is a huge cost for families in poverty, especially if they pay through prepayment meters. This means that many parents on low incomes have to make the choice between a hot meal for their children or a hot bath on a daily basis. We don't think that's right and want a fair deal for vulnerable low income families.
When the government ran a voluntary scheme on social tariffs they gave the big six energy companies the chance to include low income families in poverty but only one of the big six did this. We don't want to see that happen again with the proposed flexible rebate system. The government has launched a consultation on how the energy companies can do more for vulnerable people, but unless the government makes all vulnerable groups eligible for a rebate, low income families could be left out in the cold once again. We want all vulnerable groups, including families in poverty, to be included in the energy bill rebate scheme, Warm Home Discount.
I encourage you to ensure that low income families are included in the Warm Home Discount rebate.
