An online petition calling on the UK Government to require all energy firms to offer a fixed monthly rate for older people and those with a disability is nearing the signature threshold that will trigger an official response to the proposal. The petition also calls for “no per unit charges for gas and electricity” for those household groups.
The ‘Introduce an unmetered monthly tariff for energy for the elderly and disabled’ petition was created by William Conway and posted on the petitions-parliament website where it has received more than 9,970 signatures of support. At 10,000 signatures, the UK Government is required to provide a written response.
The petition follows recent calls by nearly 100 charities and organisations who are collectively calling on the UK Government to introduce a social energy tariff to help low-income and vulnerable, older and disabled households heat their homes this winter.
In an open letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the group including Age UK, Fair By Design, National Energy Action (NEA) and Scope warns that many older and disabled people, their carers and low-income households, are facing an uncertain future due to unaffordable energy bills during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
New research by Age UK suggests strong support for a social energy tariff among the over-60s, with 71 per cent - increasing to 76 per cent of those with a disability - agreeing that a social energy tariff should be available for those who need it most.
The findings also indicate that 24 per cent of over-60s are living in homes which are colder than they would like them to be, rising to 27 per cent for older people with a disability.
The petition reads: “We want the Government to require energy suppliers to offer a fixed monthly rate, with no per unit charges, for gas and electricity, to elderly and disabled customers.
“With the cost of living crisis I believe that the elderly and disabled are those most in need of support at this time.
“I believe the best course of action that the UK Government can take is to give these groups the right to an 'unmetered tariff' for both gas and electric, charged at a set rate per month. Doing so could help give that group the added security they most desperately need at this time.”
Department for Work and Pensions Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove MP, confirmed in Parliament at the start of the year that the UK Government is “committed to having a look at the issue of social tariffs”.
He said: “I will be meeting with the Energy Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Beverley and Holderness (Graham Stuart MP), to talk about that issue.”
The petition is open until May 8, 2023. You can read the full petition proposal on the petitions-parliament website here.
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