Vulnerable customers will need up to £1,000 of support to pay their energy bills this winter, a fuel poverty expert has told Utility Week. Dr Brenda Boardman said the government must act urgently and accused it of “making fuel poverty so much worse by its short term, inappropriate and inadequate approach”. Her comments come on the back of a new report from energy retailer Utilita, which issues seven recommendations to alleviate fuel poverty ahead of this winter.