Losing energy support will mean ‘fuel poverty for more than 7m’ in UK

A new report calls for targeted help for those who will no longer qualify from changes next spring

More than 7 million people who no longer qualify for energy support from next spring face years in fuel poverty if average heat and light bills remain at 3,000, according to a report calling for more targeted help.

In his November budget the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced that the government's energy price guarantee (EPG) would rise from April to 3,000 a year for the typical home, and the 400 help paid to all households this winter - regardless of income - would not be repeated.