An important campaign to protect vulnerable members of the community from paying extra to heat and light their homes has been hailed a success after every large energy firm agreed to abolish premium charges paid by customers with pre-payment meters.
The long-running battle saw Suffolk Housing Society join forces with housing associations across the country to lobby MPs for change. It was yesterday hailed as a success by the National Housing Federation, which coordinated the campaign, after British Gas became the last of the big energy firms to announce an end to the charges, which amount to around £40 a year.
“This is great news which will bring financial benefits to huge numbers of people – many of which are some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said Steve Clarke, chief executive of Suffolk Housing Society.
“These meters are a necessity to help customers already on a low income to budget for their energy costs. The excess charges meant they were paying more to heat and light their homes – which simply wasn’t fair.”
“We’re delighted that all of the major suppliers have now taken action to make prices fairer for all of their customers, including scores of people living across Suffolk.”
The abolition of the premium is expected to benefit nearly one million customers across the country. Although the six big energy suppliers of British Gas, EDF, e.on, npower, SSE and Scottish Power have agree to remove the charge, the Federation will continue to lobby MPs to make the change permanent in the Energy Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.
For more information about the campaign, please visit www.housing.org.uk
Suffolk Housing Society was formed in 1974 and is a charitable industrial and provident society. It is registered with the Tenant Services Authority. The society provides and manages over 1,900 homes for people in housing need at affordable rents. It operates within a 40-mile radius of its headquarters in Bury St Edmunds and has housing schemes in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex and Norfolk. Its website address is www.suffolkhousing.org
