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A scheme developed by the Welsh Government with EU support and designed to help combat fuel poverty across the country’s poorest areas has already started to pay off, cutting energy bills and also creating jobs in the process, a new article in the local media has revealed.

As part of an effort to help communities tackle rising energy costs in a more effective and efficient manner, the Department of Energy & Climate Change has drawn up a set of proposals that will enable the Government to broaden the support available for community energy projects, whereby people come together to reduce their energy use or purchase and generate their own energy.

A community energy switching scheme designed to help participants lower their bills by getting the best possible deals is nearing its deadline, a media news report on this topic has revealed.

UK Chancellor George Osborne has re-asserted his beliefs that climate change is a real phenomenon caused by human activity, but also added that the moves to mitigate its impact should be done “in the cheapest possible way”, a media news report has revealed.

British energy customers who are in credit with their suppliers will be offered direct debit refunds following negotiations chaired by Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker, the DECC (Department for Energy and Climate Change) has recently revealed.

The UK’s energy market is “broken” and should go under a full competition inquiry as a huge number of consumers complain about the level of service provided by the “Big Six” energy suppliers, a new damning report by consumer group Which? has recently revealed.

MPs have blamed poor quality housing for the rising levels of fuel poverty in Britain and called for shale gas profits to be used in order to connect communities to the gas grid and improve overall energy efficiency, a media news report has revealed.

Industry analysts are urging energy suppliers to cut consumer gas bills following a 16% drop in wholesale prices since December, a media news report suggests.

Energy minister Ed Davey is questioning British Gas’ pricing policy and profit margins, calling for them to go under some serious scrutiny, a news report in the local media has revealed.

While large scale fracking across the UK would certainly boost revenues for the Treasury and help drive forward the UK economy, consumers are not likely to benefit from it directly, Chancellor George Osborne has recently admitted.

As energy market reforms are already in effect and changes to energy tariffs are set to come into force in April, energy market regulator Ofgem has decided that this is the right time to clarify the changes for all consumers.

Saving on energy bills and reducing their energy expenditure is vital for vulnerable residents, who often struggle to keep their houses warm during the winter and often have to choose between eating or heating.