Eleven million homes are to be given help to reduce bills in the biggest state-backed programme to modernise household energy use for more than 40 years.
Utility companies will fund most of an additional £1 billion for energy efficiency measures over the next three years. It includes half price insulation for all households and a freeze on this year's bills for the poorest families. Pensioners and families with children under five will get an extra £16.50 a week if there is a severe winter. Mr Brown said he wanted a "sea change" in energy consumption as well as immediate help for poor families. The package includes:
 
  • Free cavity wall and loft insulation for pensioners and poor households
  • 50% off cost off insulation for all households.
  • Freeze on this year's bills for half a million poor consumers.
  • Partial reversal of cut to warm front programme giving free central heating to   poorest  pensioners
  • Cold weather payments to go up from £8.50 a week to £25 a week for pensioners, the disabled and families with children under five - if temperatures drop below zero for seven consecutive days.
The government says its aim is to insulate every home in Britain by 2020 - and energy companies, councils and voluntary organisations will be making door-to-door visits in deprived areas to promote the scheme.

To read the full package click here.
 
To watch live press conference click here.
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