Figures show nearly half of Welsh households in fuel poverty

Campaigning charity National Energy Action (NEA) has warned that more support is needed for those struggling with soaring energy bills after figures showed that up 45% of households in Wales are now in fuel poverty.

New Welsh Government fuel poverty estimates say that up to 614,000 households are now likely to be struggling to keep warm and safe at home – 45%, compared to 196,000 households, or 14%, prior to the rise in energy bills on 1 April.

The figures show up to 115,000 households (8%) are now living in severe fuel poverty, having to spend more than 20 percent of their income to keep warm. 

Ben Saltmarsh, Head of Wales at National Energy Action, said: ‘These statistics are worse than feared. The energy crisis is having a catastrophic impact on households across Wales, with almost half of all households estimated to be in fuel poverty. Over 217,000 are living on the lowest incomes, struggling to keep warm and safe at home.

‘Worryingly, up to 115,000 households are in ‘severe fuel poverty’, having to spend more than 20 percent of their income just to keep warm. These people can do very little, if anything at all, to improve their own situation. Those on the lowest incomes, living in the leakiest homes, are simply being priced out of having essential warmth and power. With no slack in their budgets and nothing left to ration, their quality of life is plummeting. When the cold weather strikes this coming winter, it will have a grave impact on health and well-being.’

‘This could cause a public health emergency this winter leading to many needless deaths.’

NEA called on the Welsh Government to:

• Ensure its Cold Weather Resilience Plan results in co-ordinated efforts across government, health, housing and third sectors to urgently prepare for winter, ready and able to jointly tackle fuel poverty before the cold weather sets in
• Ramp up its ‘claim what’s yours’ benefits take-up campaign to help maximise household incomes and raise awareness of available support
• Ensure the Warm Homes Programme is sufficiently equipped to lift households most in need out of fuel poverty, helping to insulate and make their homes sustainably warm.

The charity also urged the UK government to exempt vulnerable households – especially those on prepayment energy meters – from having to repay the £200 energy bill rebate, and provide more support for low-income households ahead of next winter. NEA also called for the UK government to help clear utility debts by matching every pound a household makes towards their utility debt repayments.

Photo by Blake Sherman