In your article on January 14 headed "Selby MP blasts energy supplier's price rises" (The Press, Selby edition), an npower spokesman claimed that the company had a social tariff "which guaranteed the poorest customers the lowest prices".

On January 15, the customer watchdog Energywatch reported that npower's so-called social tariff was £26 more expensive than their own best fuel deal. They also revealed that of all the energy companies, npower spent just 0.07 per cent of its turnover on measures to help poor people, compared with 1.43 per cent for British Gas.

John Grogan MP, Gowthorpe, Selby.


* I am responding to Chris Clayton's letter (Elderly at risk of fuel poverty, January 9.

As pointed out in your well-balanced article with regards to the increases, it is not just the elderly and infirm who are vulnerable.

To answer Mr Clayton's final plea, may I suggest that a national campaign is started that anyone who contributes towards the household bills can sign up to, whether they are a pensioner, like myself (I already pay more than ten per cent of my pension on gas and electricity), or a highly-paid professional.

A limit needs to be set as to what percentage of a person's income that they are prepared to pay, and a clear statement to the fact that they unwiling to pay anymore.

The utilities cannot possibly cut everbody off, or take them to court.

I understand that we are talking about limited resources. However, I fail to see why people should have to pay for the inefficiencies of the utility companies, such as inaccurate billing, poorly maintained networks, the purchasing of fuel at inflated prices, and not bringing the charges down, when the fuel prices decrease. I could go on and on.

This needs to be a campaign run by a nationally-recognised body. I, for one, would readily help the campaign in the York area.

Tony Martin, Clarence Street, York.