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<p>The latest data, available shows that households over 65 spent on average £21.80 per household, per week on energy bills in 2011, which is similar to the average amount spent across all households. However the average proportion of household expenditure on energy bills was higher for households over 65, at 6.5%, than across all households, at 4.6%. These figures include expenditure on electricity, gas and other household fuels, but exclude expenditure on petrol and diesel. They are based on data from the Living Costs and Food Survey, which is run by the Office for National Statistics.</p><p>This Government has a number of policies to help those over 65 with their energy bills including the Warm Home Discount Scheme, through which well over a million of the poorest pensioners will receive £135 off their electricity bill, winter fuel payments and cold weather payments and energy efficiency policies such as the energy company obligation. In addition, the Government has recently announced proposals that will be worth £50 on average to British households, helping to reduce the impact of energy company price rises.</p> |