Fuel Poverty Action, Unite Community and allied groups are holding nationwide protests this weekend, carrying out ‘Warm Ups’ to demand action on fuel poverty.
The protests are taking place at 3 of the UK’s “Big five” energy companies’ offices, as well as shopping centres, supermarkets and other community spaces.
Fuel Poverty Action has carried out Warm Ups for over a decade. Entering buildings or public spaces in order to warm up as a group, on the grounds of being unable to do so at home due to unaffordable energy prices and poor condition housing.
At 11am today, FPA members and supporters will Warm Up at OVO Energy’s HQ in Bristol, bedding down with blankets, sleeping bags and hot water bottles to symbolise millions of people struggling to keep warm this winter. Further Warm Ups will take place at Tesco Express in Chesterfield at 10.30am, Glades Shopping Centre in Bromley at 11am and Grosvenor Shopping Centre in Northampton at 1pm.
Stuart Bretherton, from Fuel Poverty Action’s Energy For All campaign, said:
The energy system, with its high standing charges, forced imposition of prepayment meters and other inequities, literally punishes people for being poor. Energy starvation this winter means that lives will be lost if we don’t see concrete action from this Government. People are ‘warming up’ to demand our human right to energy is respected and delivered. There’s plenty of money in energy company profits to ensure access to clean and affordable energy for all.
Yesterday, a Warm Up took place at Scottish Power HQ in Glasgow for the second winter running. Participants condemned warrants granted to the energy giant a month ago to forcibly enter the homes of families with newborn babies and install prepayment meters. Meanwhile, protestors entered and occupied a British Gas office in Cardiff for 30 minutes, the amount of time they say it takes the company to make half a million pounds in profit. Further Warm Ups took place including at the Arndale Centre in Manchester and Kirkgate Market in Leeds.
The actions are in support of the Energy For All campaign. Launched by FPA in 2022, it demands that every household is guaranteed enough energy for safe and adequate levels of heating, lighting, cooking as well as protecting additional needs like medical and mobility aids. To be paid for by ending fossil fuel subsidies, redistributing energy company profits, and higher tariffs on household energy use beyond necessities.
Unite Community launched the Unite 4 Energy For All campaign in November to support the demand, in collaboration with Unite the Union's campaign to nationalise energy. Branches have organised over 30 events this weekend as far afield as Southend-on-Sea, Portsmouth, Gateshead and the Isle of Arran.
Holly Donovan, a Unite Community member and campaign spokesperson said:
Living with a prepayment meter as a disabled person with mobility issues has been a nightmare for me. I’ve had to ration everything, cut down everything...Last winter, I switched my heating on only once as a treat...My home is damp, my clothes are going mouldy in my drawers...I shouldn't live like this, I deserve dignity. We need Energy For All.
Find more info at fuelpovertyaction.org.uk or energyforall.org.
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