Assembly to question energy companies on how to eradicate fuel poverty in London

12 SEPTEMBER 2011

The London Assembly will tomorrow question representatives from the energy and energy efficiency industry, along with national and local government, about how fuel poverty can be eradicated[1] in the capital.

The  Assembly’s Health and Public Services Committee is investigating[2] the role that suppliers and the Mayor can play in helping to reduce fuel poverty[3] in the capital. With energy prices rising this autumn, fuel poverty is getting worse[4] and London has historically lost out on national energy efficiency programmes, compared to other parts of the UK[5].

In its second of two sessions, the Committee will ask guests about the effectiveness of current national and regional schemes to tackle the issue and the role of the Mayor[5]. Assembly Members will also look at future Government proposals on fuel poverty[6] to assess their potential to reduce the problem in London.

The following guests will attend the meeting:

  • Valentine Mulholland, EDF Energy
  • Chris Ronketti, Head of Energy Solutions London & South East, British Gas
  • Jim O’Sullivan, Director, London Warm Zones
  • Cllr Catherine West, Chair of Transport and Environment Committee, London Councils
  • Pam Wynne, DECC
  • Beth Chaudhary, DECC
  • Leah Davis, Environment Programme Officer, Greater London Authority
  • Stephen Tate, Assistant Director of Transport and Environment, Greater London Authority

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 13 September from 3pm in Committee Room 5 at City Hall (The Queen’s Walk, London SE1). Media and members of the public are invited to attend.  The meeting can also be viewed via webcast.

Notes for Editors:

  1. Central Government has a target to eradicate fuel poverty in all households by 2016. It has already missed its first target on eliminating fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010.
  2. Read more about the investigation.
  3. Households are defined as being in fuel poverty when they spend more than 10 percent of their income on energy for heating, lighting, and cooking in their homes.
  4. Levels of fuel poverty have risen every year since 2004 as the costs of energy have risen. See DECC’s Annual Report on Fuel Poverty Statistics 2011
  5. Since the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target programme began in April 2008, London has received disproportionately few of the cavity wall and loft insulations funded through the scheme, relative to the size of its population. By October last year, just 3% of cavity wall insulation and under 5% of loft insulation had taken place in London. See CERT figures available on the Energy Saving Trust website.
  6. See the Government’s Green Deal proposals.
  7. Full agenda papers for the meeting are available.
  8. The Chair of the Health and Public Services Committee, Victoria Borwick AM, is available for interview.  See contact details below.
  9. As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.

For media enquiries, please contact Lisa Moore/ Julie Wheldon on 020 7983 4228/4283.  For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.  Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.