DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR POOREST

Thursday, 31 July 2008

All Southport residents are feeling the shock of the rising energy bills. However, thousands of the poorest in Southport face a double whammy according to John Pugh. These are the people on pre-payment meters who are already paying over £142 more than those on Direct Debit; mostly they are people on low incomes - some even without bank accounts. Some energy companies point to the extra costs involved in the pre-payment system. However, John Pugh, as a member of the Lib Dem Treasury team, believes that less well off customers should not be deliberately penalised.

Commenting on the issue John said: "The Energy companies have profited enormously from emissions credits  generously given away by the government. This has knocked a massive £9 billion pounds off their carbon tax bill.

"It's a pity they cannot as hugely profitable companies show a little generosity to their poorest customers. Everyone is badly effected by recent rises but the less well off you are the harder it is.

"Shopping around is not going to help these people much - as a THIRD of those who shop around for suppliers actually end up WORSE OFF.

"As it is the poor pre-payment customer needs to scurry all over Southport from point to point to get pre -payment cards in the first place!"