Fuel Poverty - information page, advice and training
Fuel poverty affects 2.5 million households in England (10.9% of households)
People who live in fuel poverty are more likely to suffer from ill health, from poor mental health, are self-disconnect from heating to save money or die as a result of living in a cold home. “Heating or eating” is a choice that many people in fuel poverty have to make.
What is fuel poverty?
Fuel poverty is defined as anyone living on a low income who also has high costs for their fuel bills. Both of these numbers are relative to the rest of the population and as such are constantly moving and it is difficult to make measurable change.
This definition is changing to anyone living on a low income in a house with and EPC band of C or below.
This change will increase the total number of households living in fuel poverty by 1 million but it is possible to improve the banding of a property and therefore help to reduce energy poverty.
There are 28,900 households in Berkshire in fuel poverty; 7,290 households living in fuel poverty in Reading
Who is in fuel poverty?
51% of fuel poor households live in inefficient housing EPC Band E or below
10. 45% of FPH have at least one person aged 16 or below
11. 35% of FPH have at least one person with a disability or long term illness
12. 35% of FPH live in private rented sector
13. 33% of FPH use a prepayment meter for
23% of FPH have at least one person aged 60 or more
How can we help?
Citizens Advice Reading provide advice and support to anyone in or at risk of fuel poverty.
We have specialist energy advisers offering free one to one appointments where people can discuss any aspect of their energy bills.
We go out to groups of those people who are at risk of fuel poverty, and do talks on how to cut the cost of gas and electricity
If you would like to find out more, check out our website or email us at energy@citizensadvicereading.org or call 0118 214 4895