 Campaigners have hit out at the energy price hikes |
Thousands of pensioners could die as a result of fuel poverty in Scotland this year following fuel price hikes, an MSP has warned. John Swinburne MSP said they would be faced with the choice of buying food or heating their homes.
The watchdog Energywatch Scotland said a 22% hike by Scottish Gas of gas and electricity prices should be investigated.
Scottish Gas blamed wholesale energy increases for the price rise.
Centrica, which sells gas and electricity as Scottish Gas and British Gas, said the rise would be effective from next month.
The Scottish Executive said financial help was already available for pensioners and other low income households to pay their council tax.
However, Mr Swinburne, of the Scottish Senior Citizens Party, said elderly people should not have to face such expensive bills.
He said: "Over the last three years numbers have risen of people who have died of winter-related deaths due to the fact they either can't put food on the table or they can't heat their homes.
"This will put them in a very disadvantaged situation and something must be done."
 John Swinburne: "Something must be done" |
Campaigners said Scotland's pensioners need help to survive fuel poverty and want �200 sliced off their council tax bills as an interim measure.
Graham Kerr, of Energywatch Scotland, said: "Nearly half of Scotland's gas users are still with Scottish Gas.
"They're now paying too much and always were paying too much. It's time to jump ship and go to a different supplier.
"Every other supplier is cheaper for gas than Scottish Gas."
Meanwhile, a survey has found that a third of first-time buyers would avoid buying a property which was not energy efficient.
The Clydesdale Bank research said new buyers were put off homes without "basics" such as double-glazing and cavity wall insulation.
Energy efficiency
One in six said they would opt for a house heated by electricity because they believed gas was more expensive.
A spokesman for the bank said soaring energy costs had made energy efficiency a major issue for first-time buyers.
The research also found 29% of existing home-owners looking for a new home had a preference for energy efficient properties.
Figures from Energywatch show that since 2003 electricity prices have risen by about 30% and gas prices by 40%.
The Clydesdale Bank survey was based on a sample of 2,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales (400 in Scotland).
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It's time to jump ship and go to a different supplier
