'Warm Ups' across the country to demand action on fuel poverty

 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.

Nation-wide protests against forced prepayment meters - outright ban and removal demanded

 From Fuel Poverty Action

 

Today, Fuel Poverty Action and allied groups begin several days of protest against fuel poverty in the UK. An announcement from the group stated that:    ‘From Edinburgh to Exeter, we will join together with the National Pensioner’s Convention, Don’t Pay, Disabled People Against Cuts and Extinction Rebellion for vigils, warm-ups and digital actions.’    The date coincides with the Office for National Statistics announcing the excess winter death figures for 2021/22. Fuel Poverty Action and the National Pensioner’s Convention have historically protested around this annual event and will mark the day with events in London and Cardiff.   The groups are collectively demanding the UK government ban forced prepayment meters. The government has come under increasing pressure to take this measure since an investigation by the i paper revealed that energy companies have secured half a million warrants to enter people’s homes and install meters since July 2021. Further reports have uncovered that only 72 warrant applications in total were refused by magistrates. Citizens Advice also announced that 3.2 million people were disconnected due to being unable to top up prepayment meters in 2022, more than the previous 10 years combined. Grant Shapps has stated officials are ‘actively working’ on the issue but is yet to announce a concrete ban or moratorium. Ruth London, Fuel Poverty Action Co-Founder, said:   We need an outright ban, and urgent removal of the hundreds of thousands of meters that have been installed where they are not safe or practical in defiance of suppliers' licence conditions. The energy suppliers were quick to find men to drill out locks and break into homes to install these meters, now they must act quickly to take them out.  People are being left in the cold and dark even when they are dependent on heat or on power for disability aids, medical equipment, for light and for charging phones.  Every delay will lead to deaths.  In Westminster, attendees will gather at 11.30am to hear speeches before a minute's silence as Big Ben strikes 12 to commemorate those who have been killed by living in cold and damp homes. Speakers will include Lord Prem Sikka, Ruth London, Jan Shortt the NPC General Secretary, Paula Peters of DPAC and Simon Francis, the End Fuel Poverty Coalition Coordinator. The event will conclude with a short march and rally outside Downing Street. A similar event, organised by NPC Wales, will begin at 11am on the same date in Cardiff Central Square. Jan Shortt, General Secretary, the National Pensioners’ Convention said:     It’s shameful that anyone in this country should die as a result of the cold. Yet tens of thousands more will do so if the government does not act as a matter of urgency. We would cautiously welcome Business Secretary Grant Shapps’ announced intention to stop forced transfers to pre-payment meters, which is a step in the right direction.  But we will monitor just how successful that is and what his intentions would be for energy providers who ignore it. Further vigils will follow on Friday 20th January, as locals meet at Brighton War Memorial, Old Steine, at 10.30am. As well as on Saturday 21st, when gatherings will take place at Leicester Town Hall at 11am and a Shell garage on Newnham Road, Cambridge, at 12pm. Saturday 21st January will also mark the date for a next round of ‘Warm-Up’ protests, a form of direct action used by Fuel Poverty Action throughout its nearly 12 year history. Participants will enter public spaces or buildings to keep warm together due to unaffordable fuel bills and poor housing conditions at home. A similar day of action in December involved Warm-Ups in locations including Scottish Power HQ, the British Museum, Harrods and a Barclays Bank. Fuel Poverty Action have released a number of meeting points and say to expect more of the same. Actions will conclude on Sunday 22nd January with a demonstration taking place outside Octopus Energy Sales Hub in Birmingham. The groups are also calling on individuals to sign a petition calling for an end to forced prepayment meters and encouraging them to either phone or email Grant Shapps’ office demanding he implement a ban. The week of action forms part of Fuel Poverty Action’s Energy For All campaign; the demand for a universal, free amount of energy to cover people’s necessities like heating, lighting and cooking - paid for by an end to all public money subsidising fossil fuels, a more effective windfall tax on energy companies and higher tariffs on luxury household energy use. The campaign also encompasses an end to prepayment meters and a national retrofitting scheme to bring housing up to standard. Stuart Bretherton, Fuel Poverty Action, Energy For All Campaign Coordinator, said:   In the world’s sixth richest economy and one of Europe’s largest producers of oil and gas, failing to meet people’s basic energy needs is a political choice. Energy For All is a proposal for a system that works for people and the planet, not profiteers or polluters. The polar opposite of this is struggling people having their homes broken into, or meters switched remotely without warning, to a method of payment that could prevent them from heating their home this winter.   Visit https://www.fuelpovertyaction.org.uk/ to see all assembly points. Contact e4a@fuelpovertyaction.org.uk for questions and comments.

 

'Warm Ups' occupations to call for 'energy for all' on Saturday

 

From Fuel Poverty Action

 

This Saturday, December 3rd, Fuel Poverty Action, Don’t Pay UK and a number of climate and community groups will hold ‘Warm-Up’ demonstrations in towns and cities across the UK. The mobilisation is in support of the Warm This Winter coalition’s Day of Action on fuel poverty, which will involve alternative protests including rallies, banner drops and crafts workshops.

‘Warm-Ups’ are a direct action tactic used by Fuel Poverty Action throughout its more than 10 year history, where campaigners enter and occupy a public space to keep warm due to unaffordable bills and poor housing conditions at home. The group have joined forces with, amongst others, the Don’t Pay UK movement which sprang into life in 2022 gathering over 250,000 pledges from members of the public to strike on their energy bills from December 1st.

Sam, a spokesperson for the Don’t Pay campaign, said:

 

We aim to empower the millions who already can’t pay their energy bills by turning this mass default into mass resistance, with grassroots groups across the UK coming together to protect their communities, keep each other warm and defend the strike.

Warm-Ups are expected to take place on Saturday in Brighton, Bristol, Glasgow, Hastings, Islington, Liverpool, Manchester, Oxford and Stratford. The groups believe that further action will follow in weeks to come as people struggle with high energy costs this winter.

As well as supporting the Don’t Pay strike and WTW Day of Action, the Warm-Ups form part of Fuel Poverty Action’s Energy For All campaign. The campaign calls for a universal, free amount of energy to cover people’s necessities like heating, lighting and cooking; paid for by an end to all public money subsidising fossil fuels, a more effective windfall tax on energy companies and higher tariffs on luxury household energy use.

Stuart Bretherton, Fuel Poverty Action, Energy For All Campaign Coordinator, said,

 

Energy For All would achieve what our energy system and economy should ultimately be geared towards, ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met. Ordinary people cannot keep footing the bill for crises created by the wealthy, it's time for the big polluters and profiteers to pay their share. Through this we could also incentivise much needed climate action on home insulation and a transition to renewables.

 

Further details LINK

Locally Brent Friends of the Earth will be publicising the issue:

All are welcome to join Brent Friends of the Earth and the 'United for Warm Homes, Brent' coalition to distribute leaflets and display our placards.

Come to Kilburn Square, Kilburn High Road  on Saturday from noon until 2pm. Between W.H. Smith's and Kilburn High Road.

'Bills too high, pay too small - we need energy for ALL' 650k petition presented to Downing Street

With a cardboard cut-out of Liz Truss as real one otherwise engaged (Photo: Fuel Poverty Action)
 

Away from the pantomime in the House of Commons, a petition calling for an overhaul of our energy pricing structure was delivered to Downing Street yesterday.. The ‘Energy For All’ petition signed by over 650,000 people, calls for a universal, free amount of energy that would cover everyone’s basic necessities of heating, lighting and cooking. This would be paid for by ending the millions of pounds spent daily on fossil fuel subsidies, windfall taxes on excess profits of energy companies and higher prices for profligate energy use.

The event, organised by Fuel Poverty Action, included a rally and march attended by around 100 people.

 

Stuart Bretherton, Energy For All Campaign Coordinator, said:

 

Millions of people will face fuel poverty this winter, with prices sitting at double what they were last year, and now renewed uncertainty over how high they will climb next year. Energy For All would deliver justice and security to all consumers now and in the future, by ensuring everyone’s basic needs are met and that steps are taken to address the climate crisis. Ordinary people cannot keep footing the bill for crises created by the wealthy, it's time for the big polluters and profiteers to pay their share.

 

In Old Palace Yard, Westminster, the crowd were addressed by speakers including Lord Prem Sikka, Caroline Lucas MP, Clive Lewis MP and Matt Lay, National Officer for Energy at Unison. Also in attendance were representatives of a number of different social movements, NGOs and direct action groups. Speakers from groups that have endorsed the campaign ranged from Disabled People Against Cuts, Tax Justice UK, the National Pensioners Convention and Just Stop Oil.

 

 

 Photo: Fuel Poverty Action

 

 

The march was led by a large ‘Energy For All’ banner while others carried light-bulb shaped placards displaying the same message. Attendees chanted, ‘Energy Pricing’s: Upside Down!’with a cardboard cut-out of Prime Minister Liz Truss standing on her head visualising this call and response.

 

 

Ruth London of Fuel Poverty Action said:

 

In our present system, the less energy you use, the more you pay per unit and the more you use, the less you pay per unit. This is upside down. Energy For All is a plan to turn it rightside up.

 

 Barry Gardiner MP (Brent North) addresses the crowd

 

Over 20 MPs from multiple parties also attended to show their support for the demand. A day prior to the petition hand-in, Early Day Motion 470: Proposed Energy Equity Commission Bill was launched in parliament. The bill would realise some of the key components of the ‘Energy For All’ demand, implementing a Universal basic energy allowance, supplemented by a social tariff and a national street-by-street insulation and retrofitting program.

 

 

Clive Lewis MP said:

 

 I know from listening to my constituents, from knocking on their doors, that they are in dire straits. That’s why I’ve introduced the universal basic energy bill. That bill will ensure that everyone, including the poorest, have up to 90% of their energy needs met.

 

 

Green MP Caroline Lucas (Photo: Fuel Poverty Action)

 

Caroline Lucas MP said:

 

We are here to say cold homes are a political choice and we are here to demand different political choices. It’s not a choice between heating and eating, people can’t do either. We are here to demand that this government puts people and the planet ahead of the profits of the big energy companies.

 

Fuel Poverty Action vows to continue pushing for Energy For All which could deliver energy security to consumers and end fuel poverty, while also accelerating action on climate change. The group will do so online, in parliament and on the streets and invites people of all experiences and backgrounds to join in demanding Energy For All.

 

 

 Further information at Fuel Poverty Action website.

Fuel povery Action's 600k 'Energy for All' petition to be presented to Downing Street on Wednesday after rally at Old Palace Yard addressed by Caroline Lucas and Clive Lewis

 From Fuel Poverty Action

Over 600,000 people have signed a growing petition calling on Prime Minister Liz Truss to end fuel poverty by implementing a new pricing structure: Energy For All.  Energy For All would give everyone a free amount of energy to cover the basics like heating, lighting and cooking. This would be paid for by higher prices on profligate energy use; windfall taxes and ending the millions of pounds spent daily on fossil fuel subsidies.

The petition is part of the ‘Energy For All’ campaign organised by Fuel Poverty Action,  and will be delivered to Downing Street on Wednesday 19th October.

Over 20 MPs are expected to attend a rally from 1pm at King George V Statue, Old Palace Yard, Westminster.  Campaigners will then proceed to Downing Street to deliver the petition to the Prime Minister at 2.30 p.m.

Ruth London, Co-Director of Fuel Poverty Action said:
 

The government’s latest measures will leave millions in miserable poverty this winter, and many thousands will die from cold homes. The existing pricing system is fundamentally unfair. The less you use, the more you pay per unit. Even people who are turning their heating off entirely are clobbered with the heavy standing charge. 

Energy For All will take our subsistence money back from the energy  giants who are sucking it out of our homes.  It will make sure that what people receive is based on what they need.  People heating mansions will pay more.  People who use no more than they need will pay far less.  And the government will finally be incentivised to insulate our homes. 

MPs Caroline Lucas and Clive Lewis, and Lord Prem Sikka will be addressing the crowd, alongside people who are facing a cold and miserable winter due to ill health, damp housing and rising prices.  For more information on moves inside Parliament, please see their quotes, below. 

The principle of a free allocation of energy, with higher tariffs for those who use far more than they need, has the support of 75% of the population according to a nationwide ICM survey in June

The idea is supported by a wide and growing range of organisaitons including the TUC, Disabled People Against Cuts, New Economics Foundation, Tax Justice UK, Single Mothers Self Defence, Parents for Future, Women Against Rape, Extinction Rebellion Scotland, Global Women’s Strike, Disabled Mothers' Rights Campaign, 350.org, Lewisham Pensioners Forum, and Just Stop Oil. Representatives of many of these movements will be at the rally on 19 October.
 

 

On Tuesday 18th October Clive Lewis, the Labour Member of Parliament for Norwich South, will present the Energy Equity Commission Bill (a Private Members’ Bill) in the House of Commons Chamber. He will also table an Early Day Motion on the Bill, which Members of Parliament can sign if they are supportive. These initiatives have cross-party support.

Clive Lewis MP, lead sponsor of the Energy Equity Commission Bill said:
 

In an age of climate and economic shocks, there’s an urgent need for a new social settlement that ensures that when it comes to life’s essentials the varying needs of all are met – from energy to housing, from connectivity to healthcare. The Government’s plan will benefit the richest the most, and let oil and gas companies off the hook for polluting and profiteering. Meanwhile, too many households will not have their energy needs met. I support the demand for ‘Energy for All’ because access to energy to meet the needs of a decent life is a basic right. That is also why I am proposing a Private Members’ Bill to introduce a free Universal Basic Energy allowance and a retrofit revolution.

 

Caroline Lucas said: 

 

Millions are already in fuel poverty, yet this Government is failing to provide anywhere near sufficient support to keep people warm throughout this forthcoming winter at the same time as building long term energy resilience.  Rather than spending billions on unfunded tax cuts and subsidies for climate-wrecking fossil fuels, we need to see a windfall tax on obscene oil & gas profits which is worthy of its name, a retrofit revolution to insulate homes and slash bills, and a proper plan to ensure everyone has energy security during the harshest time of the year.

Paula Peters, Disabled People Against Cuts, said: 

 

DPAC supports Fuel Poverty Action's "Energy For All" proposal, it's a vital measure for the safety and wellbeing of disabled and older people in poverty.  There are disabled people who use dialysis machines, ventilators, need to charge power wheelchairs, need the fridge to keep certain medications refrigerated, who are rationing electricity because they cannot afford to charge their equipment to keep them going every day.  People in social care and in energy debt with bailiffs at their doors demanding payment.. Disabled people are in a terrifying  position, barely surviving or dying. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

  

Every family deserves access to affordable, clean energy. But the way we get billed today means that basic energy needs are charged at the same rate as extravagant use.

We need a new approach that gives everyone a free energy allowance for basic needs like heating, cooking and lighting. But when people are powering luxury lifestyles, like heating a private swimming pool, they should expect to pay a higher rate.
 

The government should also put a much higher windfall tax on oil and gas profits. This will help stop profiteering and it will raise revenue that can shield households from the cost of interventions to keep bills down.

Sara Hall, Head of Movement, Tax Justice UK said:

  

Ordinary families are seeing their bills go through the roof at the same time that some big companies like BP and Shell are raking in record profits. A beefed up windfall tax on oil and gas company excessive profits would ensure that these companies aren’t profiteering during these difficult times. The government must use the tax system to raise revenues from the wealthy and big companies, to invest in our economy, in the green transition and ensure everyone has access to energy to cook food, heat their home and keep the lights on.

Fuel Poverty Action asks the new Prime Minister 3 challenging questions

Fuel Poverty Action has today written an open letter [1] to incoming Prime Minister Liz Truss, posing three questions about her response to the energy crisis that threatens to plunge millions of people into fuel poverty, causing cold, hunger, and destitution on a scale unseen for generations.  .

The first question is: Who will benefit from the policies to be announced this week, widely expected to include a taxpayer bail-out in the form of holding prices down.  We point out that the savings from such a move will largely accrue to people who can afford to use a lot of energy, while people who are barely putting the heating on will save very little.  Nor does the public have faith that we will benefit from a government loan based on a fantasy of a crisis-free future.  

The second question is: Who will pay? Will it be the taxpayer, at the expense of expenditure on welfare benefits, health, and housing?  Or will it be the energy companies, now enjoying undreamed of excess profits?  Will the Prime Minister’s energy policy address the fact that many of the suppliers claiming that they can’t sell energy for less than the wholesale prices they pay, are an arm of the very companies choosing to charge these prices? The letter says, “Asking taxpayers to pick up the tab for the obscene prices they are charging is the latest idea [2] from an extortionate industry that puts its profits before people's lives, and is ready to sacrifice even the planet we live on.” 

The third is: Will she implement FPA’s flagship proposal of Energy For All – a free allocation of energy to cover each household’s needs for essentials like heating, lighting and cooking. Energy For All would be paid for by

• higher tariffs on higher use - beyond needs
• windfall taxes, which could almost cover the support package the new Prime Minister is expected to announce [3], and
• an end to fossil fuel subsidies from the public purse, which amount to millions of pounds every day, and further swell the coffers of wealthy individuals and extraction of a polluting, expensive fuel.

This would have the benefit of encouraging responsible energy consumption, encouraging the introduction of energy saving measures and promoting green energy investment. Unlike most of the proposals being put forward it would be at the same time universal and targeted, turning rightside-up the current upside-down energy pricing system, where you pay more per unit of energy when you use less of it. 

The concept of Energy For All has captured the public's enthusiasm and brought new hope.. More and more organisations including the TUC are now coming out with similar schemes, and a petition signed by over 550,000 people will be handed into Downing Street at 1.00 pm on September 19th, with supporters  gathering beforehand at an event including speakers. 

 

[1] https://www.fuelpovertyaction.org.uk/news/fpa-writes-to-the-new-prime-minister-about-her-energy-policy-and-the-cost-of-living-disaster/

[2] Energy UK has proposed that taxpayers foot the bill for struggling businesses to meet their surging bills in a plan that could cost anywhere between £50bn and £100bn. https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/energy-companies-plan-businesses-winter-pay-bills-leaked-letter-1827585

[3] https://www.taxjustice.uk/blog/44bn-a-year-could-be-raised-from-higher-tax-on-oil-and-gas-profits