Climate change & energy

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Fuel poverty

Fuel poverty - where a household cannot afford to keep warm - damages the health of those living in cold homes and affects their quality of life. The old, children, and those who are disabled or have a long-term illness are especially vulnerable. The main cause of fuel poverty in the UK is a combination of poor energy efficiency in homes, low incomes and high energy prices. The Government has underlined its commitment to tackling fuel poverty through increased funding throughout the present spending round.

The Sixth Annual Report on fuel poverty

The Sixth Annual Report (PDF 420 KB), published on 2 October 2008, presents the statistics for the numbers in fuel poverty across the UK for 2006, and provides an update on the actions taken across and outside Government to tackle fuel poverty. Also published for the first time as part of the report is a detailed statistical annex which provides comprehensive analysis of the 2006 figures and projects forward the position for fuel poverty in 2007 and 2008. A Defra news release has been issued

Save Money Save Energy ACT ON CO2 graphicSave Money, Save Energy, ACT ON CO2

The Government has announced a package of long term assistance to households to help them tackle rising energy prices and save up to £300 every year on energy bills, through improved energy efficiency and other measures (see Defra news release). For further details contact the ACT ON CO2 advice line - call 0800 512 012 (Mon-Fri 8am – 7pm), or go to the Directgov ACT ON CO2 site. The package includes specific help to households most vulnerable to fuel poverty, including all pensioner households. On top of previously announced measures, additional funding will go into the energy efficiency activities scheme (which funds subsidised improvements such as loft and cavity wall insulation), an extra £73 million (over two years) will go to the Warm Front scheme, and Cold Weather Payments will increase from £8.50 to £25 per week for winter 2008/09. Further details of the package...

Warm Front logo

Grants for individuals

Grants are available for vulnerable private sector households to install energy efficiency measures, including central heating and insulation, under the Warm Front Scheme. Up to £2,700 is available for families and the disabled (up to £4,000 for the installation of oil fired central heating). Read more...

Latest news

  • The Sixth Annual Report (PDF 420 KB), published on 2 October 2008, presents the statistics for the numbers in fuel poverty across the UK for 2006, and provides an update on the actions taken across and outside Government to tackle fuel poverty. Also published for the first time as part of the report is a detailed statistical annex which provides comprehensive analysis of the 2006 figures and projects forward the position for fuel poverty in 2007 and 2008. A Defra news release has been issued
  • Government package of measures to tackle rising energy prices (11 September 2008) - see above, also Defra news release
  • Warm Front to pilot energy tariff advice (News release, 30 May 2008): eaga, the Warm Front scheme manager, will contact a sample of 3,000 customers about the benefits of being on the most appropriate tariff and offer to transfer a customer to their supplier for more advice and help. The referred customer’s energy supplier will check to ensure that they are on the best tariff given their circumstances, which may be the suppliers’ social tariff, and will offer any other appropriate help. This means that Warm Front will be tackling all 3 factors associated with fuel poverty; energy efficiency, low incomes and fuel prices. It is planned that a full evaluation of the pilot will be carried out and the findings considered in respect of any further roll out later in the year. (30 May 2008)
  • Further assessment of value for money offered by Warm Front Scheme (8 May 2008)
  • Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (for England): sixth annual report 2007 (PDF) (200 KB) (on the BERR website) (27 March 2008)
  • Assessment of value for money offered by Warm Front Scheme (29 January 2008)

Further information

Contacting Defra

If you want further information regarding fuel poverty and the Government's activity to tackle the problem, then you should first consult the pages indexed above. If you then need to contact us, Defra's Fuel Poverty Team can be contacted by e-mail at: fuel.poverty@defra.gsi.gov.uk.

Page last modified: 2 October 2008

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs