DECC have released the latest statistics on fuel poverty in the UK. The statistics actually date from 2012, reflecting the time to survey and analyse primary data.

The headline figures are that fuel poverty declined to 2.28 million households in England in 2012 from 2.39 million in 2011. The definition of fuel poverty, and hence the way the data was analysed, changed between those years. As the report puts it, “it is difficult to accurately isolate reasons for the changes”. Nevertheless, it does suggest that the small decrease reflects the slightly higher incomes and slight improvement in energy efficiency of housing as factors.

A particularly worrying outcome from the report is the projection that the number of fuel poor households will increase to 2.33 million in 2014, mainly due to energy price increases.

The report also recognises a strong correlation between SAP rating of homes and the likelihood of a household living in fuel poverty. The lower the SAP rating of a home, the increased likelihood of that household living in fuel poverty. 10% of households in Housing Associations are in fuel poverty and 9% in Local Authority Housing.

From the Sustainable Homes point of view, whilst we are pleased with the decrease, we think it is plain wrong that over 2 million people are in fuel poverty in England, arguably one of the most developed countries in the world. Well-being factors such as health, education and security all suffer as a result of fuel poverty. In addition, excess carbon emissions from energy inefficient homes affect, through drought- and flood-causing climate change, the well-being of others in the world. We know that many energy efficiency improvement programmes have been halted as a result of the recent cuts in ECO funding.

What is to be done? One way or another, it is clear that funding must be found from somewhere to improve the energy efficiency of social homes. On the other side of the coin, we hear from funders, such as the energy companies, that they do have funding and yet social landlords are not taking these offers up. Why not? Is the funding not enough? Or perhaps is there lack of a national energy efficiency standard for social landlords to achieve (as in Scotland)? No-one likes imposed standards and targets, but if this dislike causes over 2 million people to live in appalling circumstances, is this dislike justified? 

Richard Lupo,  Sustainable Homes