Energy-Efficiency Schemes Threatened by Cutbacks

The Association for the Conservation of Energy warned this week that government cuts have cut the budgets for energy-efficiency schemes in half. Slightly more than “500 million in government funds has been set aside for the schemes, compared to over “1 billion in 2009, while the well-subscribed Warm Front scheme will go entirely after the New Year.

The energy-efficient measures funded by the government cash include home insulation, Winter Fuel Payments and the Warm Homes Discount. Previously there have also been schemes administered by local authorities and charities to help homes and institutions install the latest in energy-efficient technology such as smart meters and underfloor heating, as well as special measures to help poorer households struggling with energy bills.

However a report by the Association warned that just 100,000 fuel-poor households are likely to see any benefit next year, a mere 2.6% of the total homes in need. Energy Bill Revolution director Ed Matthew, whose umbrella group commissioned the report, told the Daily Mirror that ?the fuel poor face a triple whammy as the fuel poverty budget has been slashed, the entire cost of new low carbon power has been put on household energy bills and Chancellor George Osborne has pocketed every penny of carbon tax.