Pages

Friday 29 November 2013

Thanet Greens Energy Profits Immoral as Excess Winer Deaths Rise

Thanet Greens have blasted as “immoral” the massive 77% increase in the domestic profit rate of the Big Six energy companies (1) whilst excess winter deaths rose to 31,000 – a staggering 29% more than the previous year (2).

Thanet Green Party Councillor, Ian Driver, said: “It’s immoral for energy companies to be increasing profit margins by such high rates when thousands of people across the country are needlessly dying each winter because they cannot afford to keep warm.
“Instead of talking about getting rid of the ‘green crap’, as Prime Minister David Cameron reportedly called fuel bill environmental levies, the Government should be rolling out a major programme of home insulation and energy efficiency focused on those most likely to be facing fuel poverty, or with medical conditions placing them at risk of  cold-related death. There must also be an independent public enquiry into the vast profits made by the energy companies and steps taken to ensure that a greater portion is re-invested in ensuring that fuel poverty and excess winter deaths become a thing of the past.”

Latest figures show that there were 630 excess winter deaths in Kent during the winter of 2011-12. The highest number of deaths was in Canterbury with 120, followed by Thanet with 90. The lowest rates were in Dartford, Dover, Gravesham and Maidstone, where 30 deaths per district were recorded (3).
According to Government research, 53,272 Kent households (an average of 9% of total households) are in fuel poverty (4). In some areas of Kent the number of households in poverty is much higher than the county average. In Canterbury, Thanet, Swale and Dover fuel poverty rates of between 17-22% are concentrated in some of the most deprived wards (5).

“With wages and benefits frozen or reducing in value, and energy price rises many times greater than inflation, thousands of Kent people will find themselves in fuel poverty with many having to make the choice between eating and heating,” said Green Party Thanet Councillor, Ian Driver.

Notes



3.   Excess winter death figures for Kent districts winter 2011/12 

Ashford
50
Canterbury
120
Dartford
30
Dover
30
Gravesham
30
Maidstone
30
Sevenoaks
40
Shepway
70
Swale
30
Thanet
90
Tonbridge and Malling
40
Tunbridge Wells
70
630

 Data extracted from ONS data (table 3) at

4.   Figures extracted from the latest Government Fuel Poverty Statistics for 2011 (low income/high cost table), which can be found here:
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2011-sub-regional-fuel-poverty-data-low-income-high-costs-indicator

5.   Figures extracted from above table and attached to this e-mail.

3 comments:

  1. Shocking figures, Ian, fuel and energy prices are often manipulated for political reasons as well as greed.

    The best course of action is to become as independent as possible, which is easily said, but difficult to achieve. The rocket stove mass heater is an example of an energy efficient and clean way to stay toasty warm, and cheap to build to boot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. That's 90 too many. Am I alone in wishing to see winters in which there are no seasonal deaths in Thanet?

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Excess winer deaths"? Maybe they need to cut back on the alcohol.

    ReplyDelete