Transcript Slide 1

Fuel Poverty in Newcastle
Newcastle Homeless Forum
1 March 2012
Outline
•
•
•
•
What is fuel poverty?
Causes of fuel poverty
Newcastle picture
Current delivery
Fuel Poverty
“The inability to afford to adequately heat the
home”
A household is in fuel
poverty if more than
10% of income is
spent on heating the
property to adequate
levels
Causes of Fuel Poverty
Rising fuel prices
Low household income
Poor thermal efficiency
Cold, damp & unhealthy homes
Energy Price Pressures
Energy prices have risen
sharply
•
•
gas +86%
electricity +39%
(DECC 2001 - 2010)
Average online
direct debit £1,078
Average direct
debit £1,149
Too many choices
•
•
•
supplier
payment method
tariff
Average standard
credit £1,247
Major concerns
•
•
fuel debt
self-disconnection
Average prepayment
meter £1,228
Figures 09/11/11, based on average ‘medium’ annual consumption of 16,500kWh gas and
3,300kWh electricity for a 3 bedroom semi-detached property.
Latest price rises (and cuts!)
Supplier
Gas %
Electricity %
Date
British Gas
18
16 (-5)
18/08/11
(12/01/12)
EDF Energy
15.4 (-5)
4.5
10/11/11
(07/02/12)
npower
15.7 (-5)
7.2
01/10/11
(01/02/12)
18.1
11.4 (-6)
13/09/11
(27/02/12)
19 (-5)
10
01/08/11
(27/02/12)
18 (-4.5)
11
14/09/11
(26/03/12)
Eon
ScottishPower
Scottish & Southern
Where the heat goes
Indoor temperature & health
In Newcastle’s 120,000 homes…
•
•
•
•
£1,247 average fuel bill (2012)
40% residents have a health issue
30% are fuel poor (Nov 2011)
14.16% excess winter deaths (2009/10)
Delivery of measures
•
•
•
•
•
Newcastle Warm Zone
Health Through Warmth
Warm Front
Modern Homes
Helping Hands
Delivery of energy advice
• Energy Centre
• Newcastle Warm Zone
• Energy Saving Trust
• Utilities
• Home Heat helpline
• Consumer Direct
Financial assistance
•
•
•
•
Warm Home Discount
Social tariffs (EDF and Eon)
Winter Fuel Payment
Cold Weather Payments
• Income maximisation
• Debt advice
Nine-year-old Luke put down his feelings on how
his home was affecting his wellbeing:
I feel cold and sad
I haven’t got any heating
My home is cold and damp
Water runs down the wall
And it makes my bed wet
My fingers draw on the window
It’s like fog
I try to pull the cover over me
But it does not work
End Child Poverty, 2008
Contact Details
phone: 0191 278 3427
email:
[email protected]
web:
www.newcastle.gov.uk/energycentre