“We want to make fuel poverty a thing of the past”- Welsh Lib Dems

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to end fuel poverty.

According to a recent report from Citizens Advice, nearly a third of all Welsh prepayment meter users faced disconnection last year due to unaffordable top-up costs.

13% of these users were going over a week without essential energy supply.

The Welsh Lib Dems have now called on the Welsh Government to ensure that fewer households are faced with potential disconnection over debt by limiting the installation of prepayment meters.

The party is also calling for an acceleration of the Warm Homes Programme, launched last month, which offers energy saving advice to low-income households.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“This current fuel poverty crisis is disproportionately impacting our most vulnerable people, those in social housing, households with children and the elderly.

These struggling households are often forced to install prepayment meters, which flagrantly violates consumer protections as well as harming the dignity and welfare of those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.

There is a real pressing need to work alongside both Ofgem and the UK Government to bring in legally binding legislation that will finally protect households from fuel poverty.”