The two charities are campaigning for the Government to develop a far more effective programme of domestic energy efficiency, to end suffering from fuel poverty and tackle climate change.

The Government is legally bound to eradicate fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010. But, by its own estimates, it will miss this target by a large margin. By 2010, there may still be 1.3 million vulnerable households in fuel poverty – nearly the same number as at the time of the Government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy in 2001. 

The two charities are filing their judicial review application (the legal procedure used to challenge public authorities) with the High Court today.

'The Government’s fuel poverty strategy is a fiasco and older people are the casualties.

Mervyn Kohler, Special Adviser for Help the Aged, said: 'The Government’s fuel poverty strategy is a fiasco and, all too often, older people are the casualties. For those living in fuel poverty, the daily reality often means pain and misery, illness and even death.

'When fuel costs fell, the Government was happy to take the credit for a fall in fuel poverty. Now that the energy market has changed, it must take responsibility for its inadequate and passive response.'

Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged are calling on the Government to:

• clearly set out how it will meet its legal obligation to eliminate fuel poverty, what the costs will be and how its plans will be funded;
• establish a mechanism for accurately identifying all those households suffering from fuel poverty;
• recognise that ensuring high levels of energy efficiency provides the key long-term solution to ending fuel poverty;
• set a minimum standard of energy efficiency for all households being treated for fuel poverty; and
• set up low-carbon home zones in areas where fuel poverty is concentrated, in which fuel-poor households should be treated house by house to the requisite energy efficiency standard.

Find out more about keeping warm and making sure you can afford your energy bills in our Stay Warm in Winter section