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

We also offer free training to other organisations on how to offer energy advice - please click on here to download a copy of the information flyer

If you would like to find out more, check out our website or email us at energy@citizensadvicereading.org or call 0118 214 4895

Fuel Poverty Helpline

Fuel poverty helpline service run by the National Energy Foundation that offers residents energy efficiency advice, access to free home energy visits and grant funding, and have recently secured Emergency Fuel Vouchers.

For further information or to submit a referral online, please visit https://www.bhbh.org.uk/ or call 0800 107 0044

Page last reviewed: 19/02/2024

Contact the Team

Family Information Service

fis@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2

SEND Local Offer

localoffer@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2 0118 937 3777 OPTION 2

Adult & Carers Support

CSAAdvice.Signposting@reading.gov.uk 0118 937 3747 0118 937 3747
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