Over three million low income households in fuel poverty, official figures show

15 February 2024 , 11:17

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New figures have revealed that 13% of households in England were in fuel poverty last year (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Over three million low-income households were struggling to pay their energy bills in 2023, according to official figures.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero revealed that 13% of households in England were in fuel poverty last year, a figure largely unchanged from 2022. Without government support, including energy bill payments and cost-of-living income payments for those on low incomes, the number of households in fuel poverty would have exceeded 3.5 million.

The data also showed that more than a third of households (36.4%) spent over 10% of their income on domestic energy bills after housing costs. However, due to energy improvements, there has been a slight increase in the proportion of low-income households living in properties with a fuel poverty energy efficiency rating of Band C or higher.

This improvement has lifted some households out of fuel poverty, with 54% of all low-income households now living in a property with an energy rating of C or above. The fuel poverty gap, which is the decrease in fuel costs needed for a home not to be in fuel poverty, rose to £417 in 2023, up from £348 the year before.

Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, shared his concern with: "The numbers of households paying more than 10% of their income on energy is truly shocking, far exceeding previous estimates. The reality is that household energy debt is now at record levels, millions of people are living in cold, damp homes and children are suffering in mouldy conditions."

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Georgia Whitaker, Greenpeace UK climate campaigner, said: "Progress on tackling fuel poverty is flatlining, despite the ongoing energy crisis, which has forced those on the lowest incomes to freeze in their own homes. The cheapest and most effective way to help is to insulate homes, but Government funding for energy efficiency schemes was pushed off a cliff edge by ministers over a decade ago."

She slammed the decision to scrap the law that makes landlords insulate homes. She also called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to "drop his anti-green agenda" because actions like insulation help with climate change and living costs.

Lawrence Matheson