THE TORY government’s attempts at energy reform have failed the poorest in society, fuel poverty campaigners said today.

National Energy Action (NEA) said millions of households continue to face unaffordable energy bills due to a lack of measures to help low-income and vulnerable people.

The charity’s head of policy Matt Copeland said: “Despite publishing several documents considering the future of retail markets, the UK government has failed to set out any new proposals to protect low income and vulnerable people in energy markets from April 2024.

“Millions of households continue to face unaffordable energy bills.

“Last winter was the hardest in living memory, but this winter looks likely to be just as bad.

“With prices staying high, more and more people are going without hot food or warm showers or are turning their heating off altogether.

“Households are also struggling with a growing mountain of debt. We urgently need the UK government to meet its commitment to set out how it will protect the most vulnerable.”

It issued the warning as a Department for Energy and Net Zero publication set out plans for “targeted reforms aimed at making the retail market work better for consumers.”

Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability Amanda Solloway said: “Today, I’m calling on industry to work with us, and take up the opportunities of investing in low-carbon technologies and providing a first-class customer service.”

In response, NEA said the government had “failed to consult on new proposals to protect low-income and vulnerable people in energy markets from April 2024, as it first committed to do in the Budget earlier this year, as well as being repeated within subsequent ministerial statements which committed to do this before summer recess.”