The Committee on Fuel Poverty has published a new research report
exploring the challenges faced by fuel poor households over the
winter of 2022 to 2023.
The research, which was conducted by London Economics Limited,
provides a detailed and up to date understanding of the
challenges faced by fuel poor households last winter when making
decisions around fuel consumption.
The report seeks to answer 2 key questions: what challenges do
fuel poor households face regarding energy bill affordability,
and how were fuel poor households using energy over the winter of
2022 to 2023.
By using a combination of a Rapid Evidence Assessment, workshops
with industry experts and frontline energy advisors, and online
research (analysing posts on online forums - MumsNet and Reddit -
and analysing Google Trends), this report explores these 2
questions.
Chair of the Committee on Fuel Poverty, , said:
We welcome this report which provides a timely insight into the
challenges facing fuel poor households last winter and the
difficult decisions they are facing around the current cost of
living.
This research provides up to date evidence on the lived
experience of fuel poor households last winter and the challenges
they face. It highlights the importance of energy efficiency in
reducing fuel poverty in the long term. This report is essential
reading for anyone concerned by the current cost of living crisis
and the steps we need to take to tackle fuel poverty.
The research was carried out over January to March 2023 and
explored the following topics.
-
challenges facing fuel poor households: the
research examined the different challenges faced by those
households in fuel poverty including affordability of energy,
health and wellbeing, and food and nutrition and the links
between these challenges
-
impact on specific groups: by recognising that
fuel poverty affects different people in different ways, the
research explored the impact on specific groups and how some
groups are more affected by fuel poverty
-
challenges and coping strategies in the winter of 2022
to 2023: the research looked at the different coping
strategies used by households over the winter of 2022 to 2023.
Households in fuel poverty were using more unconventional – and
more dangerous – heating and lighting methods to avoid using
energy compared to previous winters. Workshop participants also
noted the increase in self-disconnection
-
government support and future support: the
research explored the strengths and weaknesses of existing
support – both short term help for households and longer term
energy efficiency improvements - based on feedback from
workshop participants and the literature. The research also
considered what further support could be implemented
-
areas to explore further: the research also
set out a number of potential options for consideration by the
Committee and government
More information
Read the report: Understanding the
challenges faced by fuel poor households.
The Committee on Fuel Poverty is an advisory non-departmental
public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security
and Net Zero. The Committee is responsible for advising on the
effectiveness of policies aimed at reducing fuel poverty and
encouraging greater co-ordination across the organisations
working to reduce fuel poverty.
See further information about
the Committee.
