Some 17% of households are now energy poor – that is, they have to spend more than 10% of their income on energy; and, because elderly people are typically poorer, about a quarter of their households are energy poor. Deprived pensioners burn old books to keep warm, because they are cheaper than coal, they ride on heated buses all day, and a third leave part of their homes cold.
毫无疑问，穷人耗电的降幅远超过10%，而富人耗电却根本没有减少。近五年一个英国家庭供暖费用上涨了63%，而实际工资却在持续下降。17%的英国家庭买不起能源——换句话说他们被迫把10%的收入花在能源上；而且因为老年人经济能力普遍较差，约有四分之一的老年家庭陷入能源贫穷。领取退休金的贫困老人因为便宜而被迫焚烧旧书取暖，他们一天到晚待在有暖气的公交车上，有三分之一的人家里的暖气根本没烧。