Fuel Poverty in Newcastle

Newcastle Homeless Forum

1 March 2012

Outline

• What is fuel poverty?

• Causes of fuel poverty

• Newcastle picture

• Current delivery

A household is in fuel poverty if more than 10% of income is spent on heating the property to adequate levels

““The inability to afford to adequately heat the The inability to afford to adequately heat the home”home”

Fuel Poverty

Causes of Fuel Poverty

Rising fuel prices

Low household income

Poor thermal efficiency

Cold, damp & unhealthy homes

Energy Price PressuresEnergy prices have risensharply

• gas +86%• electricity +39%

(DECC 2001 - 2010)

Too many choices• supplier• payment method• tariff

Major concerns• fuel debt• self-disconnection

Average online direct debit £1,078

Average prepayment meter

£1,228

Average direct debit £1,149

Average standard credit £1,247

Figures 09/11/11, based on average ‘medium’ annual consumption of 16,500kWh gas and 3,300kWh electricity for a 3 bedroom semi-detached property.

Latest price rises (and cuts!)Supplier Gas % Electricity % Date

British Gas 18 16 (-5) 18/08/11 (12/01/12)

EDF Energy 15.4 (-5) 4.5 10/11/11 (07/02/12)

npower 15.7 (-5) 7.2 01/10/11 (01/02/12)

Eon 18.1 11.4 (-6) 13/09/11 (27/02/12)

ScottishPower 19 (-5) 10 01/08/11 (27/02/12)

Scottish & Southern 18 (-4.5) 11 14/09/11 (26/03/12)

Where the heat goes

Indoor temperature & health

In Newcastle’s 120,000 homes…• £1,247 average fuel bill (2012)• 40% residents have a health issue• 30% are fuel poor (Nov 2011)• 14.16% excess winter deaths (2009/10)

Delivery of measures

• Newcastle Warm Zone• Health Through Warmth• Warm Front• Modern Homes• Helping Hands

Delivery of energy advice

• Energy Centre• Newcastle Warm Zone• Energy Saving Trust

• Utilities• Home Heat helpline

• Consumer Direct

Financial assistance

• Warm Home Discount• Social tariffs (EDF and Eon)• Winter Fuel Payment• Cold Weather Payments

• Income maximisation• Debt advice

Nine-year-old Luke put down his feelings on how his home was affecting his wellbeing:

I feel cold and sad I haven’t got any heating My home is cold and damp Water runs down the wall And it makes my bed wet My fingers draw on the window It’s like fog I try to pull the cover over me But it does not work

End Child Poverty, 2008

Contact Details

phone: 0191 278 3427

email:

energy@newcastle.gov.uk

web:

www.newcastle.gov.uk/energycentre