Consumer groups have called for an energy social tariff in the form of cash payments for the poorest households ahead of what they warn could be a decade of high bills. Citizens Advice said payments of up to £1,500 are now an "essential" long-term solution for millions of fuel-poor households over the coming years.
The call for targeted financial support by next year has the backing of a coalition of consumer and energy bodies including Martin Lewis and Energy UK and is part of a new report commissioned by Citizens Advice following nine months of consultation with industry and the public.
The report recommends cash payments according to individual household needs, delivered through a combination of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data on household incomes and energy supplier knowledge of how much electricity and gas is used to show a picture of who needs help and how much.
