By Lucy Ashton
Jackie Baillie is encouraging constituents across West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond to make sure they submit an accurate meter reading by March 31.
The Ofgem price cap is due to increase by a massive 54 percent on Friday, April 1 which is forecast to plunge even more households into fuel poverty than already are.
Statistics compiled by Energy Action Scotland earlier this year showed, on average 29 percent of families in West Dunbartonshire are in fuel poverty – above the Scottish average of 24 percent.
However the charity later released figures showing they feared 41 percent of people within the region would be classed as being in fuel poverty.
In Argyll and Bute, it is estimated 46 percent of people will be living in fuel poverty as a result of the price cap increase.
Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton constituency MSP, right, said: “It is imperative that we all make sure we read our meters and submit an accurate reading by March 31st. Otherwise we are overpaying for already exorbitant fuel costs.
“This is a very small step which people can take to help restrict their bills however I will continue to press both the UK and Scottish Governments to try and secure extra funding for people struggling the most.
“The steps they have taken so far, such as giving people in council tax bands A to D £150 which equates to £4 a week is far from being enough to help people during the worst cost of living crisis in living memory.”