Fuel Poverty Norfolk RCC Council

meeting 23rd November 2011

Norfolk RCC

Supporting CommunitiesRural AdvocacyDeveloping Solutions

The Challenge

• 61,143 households in fuel poverty

• Heating oil increased 44% in cost one year**

*More than 10% of income on maintaining reasonable temperature**Dec ’09- Dec ’10 Department of Energy and Climate Change

The Challenge

• Data is 2008 fuel prices have only gone up• Huge underestimate• 17% of households, highest in North

Norfolk (22%)• That’s nearly 1 in 5 • Norfolk’s largest deprivation issue

– Financial– Health– Life choices

The Challenge

• Worse in rural areas

• Larger proportion off mains gas

• Detached properties

• Older properties with poorer insulation

• Only likely to get worse

What has Norfolk RCC been doing?

• CALOR FREE events raising awareness – Impact – Insulation– Support

• General media and partner awareness

• Community Buildings (e.g. Hempnall)

• Bulk buying…. Thinking Fuel

Thinking…Fuel

• Partnership between Norfolk RCC and AF Affinity

• Benefit from one of the largest agricultural purchasing groups

• Try and provide rural communities cheaper fuel

• Proceeds help support Norfolk RCC Community Development Services

How has it performed?

35.00

40.00

45.00

50.00

55.00

60.00

65.00

70.00

Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Fuel Price Comparison

AF Affinity scheme (pence per litre)

Average UK Price (pence per litre) Department of Energy and Climate Change

How has it performed?

• Not always the best but consistently low

• Can’t guarantee

• Level of savings (Jan-Dec 2010)– Average 8%– Lowest 4%– Highest 16%

What about this year?

• Prices didn’t come down over the summer

Savings through the scheme

• Savings from the scheme 2011

• 1000 litre price (500 should be better)

• Compared to boiler juice Aug/Oct/Nov

• June/July/Sept DECC• 3 day delivery

June 11%

July 7%

Aug 16%

Sept 9%

Oct 12%

Nov 10%

What about this year?

• Highest 16% saving• Lowest 7% saving• Average 11% saving• Grown to 500 members• Better performance than last year but there are

limits to bulk buying• October – our price 53.92ppl

– 500l 3 days 62.26 (13% or £42) – 1000l 3 days 61.57 (12% or £77)

Community Group based

• Why?• Gives us community communication

channels- better reach to the most vulnerable

• Easy point of contact • Helps stimulate and support community

activity and friendly eyes and ears• Same Post Code area NR20 3--, with

some flexibility

How does it work

• Can order anytime

• 1st working day of the month orders transacted together

• New learning– Held for up to 2 weeks– More than 3ppl increase we’ll confirm before

ordering– Can take the guaranteed price on the day

How does it work

• Credit, debit card or direct debit • The debit card payment will be held and

adjusted to reflect any extra bulk discount or if your tank couldn’t accommodate your full order

• Same price regardless of quantity • Advantages of this scheme

– Does not require group ordering– Does not require single bank account– Benefit from numbers for overall buying

What Next?

• Expand the scheme• Other specific groups that can benefit

– Social landlords – Communal housing/ care homes

• Next stages for Calor- Energy Survey – Grt Ryburgh- possible renewables project

• Future of an increasing oil price – Insulation– Renewables

What about the community?

• Bulk buying projects– Fuel– Insulation– Renewables

• Community facilities- making them more sustainable and acting to inspire

• Community based renewables projects

Organise, inspire, inform and build the friendly eyes and ears

we want in our communities