Number of households in fuel poverty a ‘grave concern’

Making homes energy efficient should be at the heart of government plans to tackle fuel poverty, says Citizens Advice.  The number of people in fuel poverty in England is likely to reach 2.33 million in 2014, according to new government figures out today.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

“The Government should be gravely concerned that 2.33 million households will be in fuel poverty this year.  It is easy to forget when the sun is shining, but the reality for many, particularly in the colder months, is that horrifically cold homes, low incomes and high energy prices are trapping people into fuel poverty.  

"When temperatures drop some people are faced with the stark choice of heating or eating, and others are turning to payday loans and credit cards to cover the costs of staying warm.  Many are suffering ill-health as a result of living in freezing cold properties.  People should not have to endure this standard of living in the 21st century.

“What little money some people have to spend on energy is being lost through draughty homes as heat leaks through the walls, windows and roof.  Making homes energy efficient has to be at the core of any strategy to tackle fuel poverty.  Yet attempts to bring the nation's housing stock up to scratch are failing. The Green Deal is not appealing to consumers and the help provided through the energy company obligation is not getting to enough of the fuel poor.

“The Government has until July to deliver its long-awaited fuel poverty strategy. The plans need to be both challenging, by including a commitment to eradicate dangerously cold and unhealthy homes by 2020, and clearly costed.  Government needs to look at more efficient use of existing schemes and current levies on our consumer energy bills to bring real benefits to the fuel poor.”

In order to eradicate fuel poverty Citizens Advice wants Government to:

• Set a minimum standard of C on the Energy Performance Certificate rating scale for 2025 with an interim target of D by 2020.
• Target the whole of the Energy Company Obligation at the fuel poor and set up new programmes to help low income households not reached by ECO.
• Locally led fuel poverty programmes which take responsibility away from suppliers for delivering these schemes.

Notes to editors:

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.