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Help with fuel bills for the poorest consumers.

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M2 PRESSWIRE-30 May 2008-UK Government: Help with fuel bills for the poorest consumers(C)1994-2008 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:30052008

A raft of new Government measures to help vulnerable consumers and especially the elderly make their homes warmer and more energy efficient are announced today.

Measures that are designed to help with bills and ensure consumers are on the best value tariff include:

* Seek changes in the law to allow data-sharing with energy suppliers; and

* A pilot scheme to ensure people applying for Warm Front grants are referred to their energy supplier for tariff advice so that they can make maximum savings. The pilot will be trialled by 3,000 households;

* GBP150,000 to fund a roll out of Ofgem's national Citizens Advice Bureau awareness campaign on social assistance for the vulnerable.

Measures to help improve energy efficiency in the long term which can cut bills include:

* GBP3 million as part of a pilot project within the low carbon buildings programme (LCBP) to introduce fuel saving microgeneration to fuel poor communities

* The publication of the results of the heat call for evidence. The call for evidence will help the Government develop a heat strategy and measures to reduce demand for heat. This will help reduce heating bills in fuel poor communities. There will be a formal consultation on the...