Helping the most vulnerable people keep warm is a priority. The UK fuel poverty strategy: November 2001 was developed and between 1996 and 2007, the number of households in the UK in fuel poverty went down by around 1.7 million vulnerable households (those containing children, the elderly or someone who is disabled or sick).
However, rising energy prices in recent years have had an impact, and the UK fuel poverty strategy 7th annual progress report 2009 shows that 2007 was the third consecutive year where the number of fuel poor households in the UK rose. In 2007, there were around 4 million households in fuel poverty, around 0.5 million more households than in 2006.
The 7th Annual Progress Report, published in October 2009, presents an update on policies and programmes to tackle fuel poverty alongside new developments that have been introduced since the previous report. It also looks at the impact of energy prices and the action the Department is taking to develop regulation where necessary in the retail energy markets.
The aim in England, restated the aim in Fuel Poverty in England: the government’s plan for action to seek an end to fuel poverty in vulnerable households by 2010. Fuel poverty in other households will also be tackled as progress is made on these groups, with a target that by 22 November 2016, as far as is reasonably practicable, no person in England should have to live in fuel poverty.
Tackling fuel poverty is a priority. DECC is responsible for coordinating activity on fuel poverty across a range of government departments.
The Fuel Poverty Strategy has policies to target the three main factors that influence fuel poverty – household energy efficiency, fuel prices and household income, and we have put in place a strong package of programmes and measures to address these concerns. This includes Warm Front, Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and the Decent Homes programme primarily addressing the energy efficiency of households and Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments to increase household incomes.
Since 2000 over £25 billion has been spent on these benefits and programmes to tackle fuel poverty – assisting over 2 million households in the UK.
Warm Front is the Department's scheme in eradicating fuel poverty and has assisted over 2 million households, across England, since its inception in June 2000. This has included half a million households in the last two years alone. On average, each household receiving Warm Front assistance including insulation and heating measures along with Benefit entitlement Checks, has the potential to save £300 per year on energy bills.
Annual monitoring
DECC produces annual reports of progress towards the targets set out in the UK fuel poverty strategy. These reports provide updates on actions since the publication of the strategy in 2001. They also highlight some key areas for attention during the coming year.
To request your copy, email: fuelpoverty@decc.gsi.gov.uk
Latest edition