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Brown's energy losing ground, changing focus
03 September, 2008Gordon Brown's political relaunch is faltering as a result of the big six energy companies refusing to agree to fund a discount on the UK's poorest customers' energy bills.
Gordon Brown's political relaunch is faltering as a result of the big six energy companies refusing to agree to fund a discount on the UK's poorest customers' energy bills.
The prime minister originally planned to announce this week a discount scheme which would have benefited those suffering most at the hands of fuel poverty, but talks with the energy companies are now said to be refocusing on how they can reduce bills by ensuring homes of the poorest are insulated.
The government had been lobbying for a £100 reduction on the bills of those hit hardest by the double price rises seen so far this year.
As discussions are grinding to a halt, both sides are beginning to talk up the possibility of helping the poor better insulate their homes, which would provide a more sustainable solution to fuel poverty in the future.
Short term measures are needed however, as well as long term solutions, in order to reassert Mr Brown's popularity, and as such the energy companies can expect to be harangued for some time yet, in an attempt to make them provide the cash to those that are struggling with their bills.
The long, drawn-out sale of British Energy (BE) to EDF Energy has come to an end after the French energy firm bought BE for £12.5 billion, it has been reported.
Government hopes to have an EDF Energy-British Energy (BE) tie up within two weeks have been dubbed "optimistic" by the British nuclear company, according to a recent report.
Gordon Brown is facing the prospect of a major defeat over the government's reluctance to impose a windfall tax on energy companies, it has been reported.
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