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Londra Gazete, 25 August 2022 LondraGazete.com/English 7

EDF boss warns half of UK

households face fuel poverty

HALF of UK households are fac- Mr Commaret, EDF Energy UK's "Without further support from
ing fuel poverty this winter unless managing director for UK custom- the government, more than half of
the government does more to help ers, told the BBC the current level UK households will likely be in fuel
with energy bills, EDF has warned. of support was "much too low" and poverty by January."
Philippe Commaret, a senior called for additional help to be pro- "By way of context, I have to
executive at EDF Energy UK, said vided, including short-term help mention that we face, despite the
without further support, people with bills and longer-term solu- support that the government [has]
face a "catastrophic winter". tions such as better insulation for already announced, a dramatic and
Energy bills are predicted to be homes. catastrophic winter for our cus-
nearly three times higher than last EDF had seen a 30% rise in calls tomer," he said.
winter. from customers under stress and Mr Commaret said EDF was pro-
A household is considered to be struggling to pay their bills, he viding additional help and advice
House sales peak in July in fuel poverty if it has to spend said. "All ideas to keep bills for cus- to its 3.4 million UK customers via
tomers flat should be considered," an app to help customers identify
10% or more of its income on en-
but buyers are cautious ergy. From October, all UK house- Mr Commaret said. ways to save fuel.
holds will start receiving payments
providing a £400 discount on their
MORE homes were sold in the UK Sales surged during, and despite
in July than in any other month this of, the pandemic as people searched fuel bills, with eight million low-in-
year, official figures show, but agents for more inside and outdoor space, come households set to receive an
say buyers are showing more caution. then slowed in the second half of last additional £650.
Cost-of-living pressures were lead- year. But the Liberal Democrats, La-
ing some to negotiate harder for a Consistent monthly sales of bour and most major energy sup-
lower price, agents said. around 100,000 this year show that pliers are calling for further sup-
A total of 110,970 properties were demand remains comparatively port for households, including for
sold in the UK during the month - strong, but there are signs that the the energy price cap to be frozen at
the highest since September, HM squeeze on budgets caused by rising current levels.
Revenue and Customs data shows. prices and bills were having an effect. The government has said no fur-
Activity in the housing market Sales in July were still 33% higher ther measures will be announced
usually picks up during the warmer than the same month last year and before a new prime minister is in
months. 7.2% higher than June, HMRC said. place from 5 September.