Fuel poverty after the Energy Review

1. Fuel poverty after the Energy Review Caroline Heijne National Right to Fuel Campaign

2. Fuel Poverty and Climate Change • Emphasis on addressing climate change • Social justice is a major element, high on the agenda • Consequences of not addressing climate change were so severe that this cannot be avoided

3. Win, win, win • Address the reality of sustainable development, to get win, win, win situation, meeting environmental, social and economic objectives • Need significant increases in measures to end fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions

4. Action on all fronts • On energy efficiency both in housing and in appliances and products • Increasing microgeneration and renewables • Maintaining income and benefits support • Fuel price initiatives 

5. Housing Standards • Focus on housing standards inadequate to meet the challenge • Regulations and standards need to be raised massively • Development of large scale schemes seldom put issues of energy efficiency and sustainability at the heart of the process • EcoHomes “Very Good” standard – will benefit low income households, given that most RSL tenants are low income, but limited by only applying to new homes

6. Microgeneration and Renewables • Increasing microgeneration and renewables necessary actions • Successful work on solar hot water heating installations and selling microgeneration equipment to residents • More varied and decentralised approach to generation and supply of electricity • No additional money to solve problems associated with “hard to heat” homes, often inhabited by low income and potentially vulnerable households

7. Income support • Income measures needed to support those living in fuel poverty prior to work improving home energy efficiency • Current increases were not enough to meet the rise in fuel prices. • Over 70s target group – a welcome but very limited response to the range of groups likely to suffer fuel poverty

8. Fuel prices • Action on fuel prices were a key aspect of the current problem for the fuel poverty targets •  Ofgem role in development of initiatives on fuel pricing and services, specifically for low income and vulnerable households • UK energy market changes to provide energy services and management to UK households, reducing pressure on UK suppliers to increase fuel sales • Wait and see for action, but nothing on rising prices or help for fuel poor • 10% increase of domestic fuel prices for carbon costs

9. Co-operation • Cross-departmental working and co-ordination - a key factor for effective action • Government ministers, and officials, perceived as seeing different aspects of agenda in conflict, not complementary

10. Targets and duties • Propose PSA for ending fuel poverty and carbon emissions reductions for the new DCLG. • Local Authorities in key position to ensure local delivery of national strategies and policies • Duties for local authorities on fuel poverty and climate change • Awaiting Local Government White Paper for proposals

11. Links with others • Links between government departments and voluntary sector to improve delivery of national targets • Adequate resourcing for local agencies

12. No real change, then • No new money • No new regulation or targets • No widening of remits for energy efficiency programmes

13. About us • Campaign formed in 1975 in response to record level of fuel disconnections and rising hardship experienced by low income households triggered by major increases in fuel prices • Campaign aims to put an end to fuel poverty by securing a dry warm and well lit home for all irrespective of income or location • Membership broad based, includes local authority departments, local advice agencies, energy businesses, housing organisations • Campaign is an entirely independent organisation • Join us