Over 5,000 Exeter households in Fuel Poverty
Over 10 percent of Exeter households are considered to be in fuel poverty according to a report discussed by Devon County Council today.
5,494 households in Exeter are currently spending more than 10% of their household income on heating or are unable to keep their home adequately heated.
Countywide, fuel poverty exists in every one of the areas looked at in the report. Currently Exeter has 7 of the worst 10 fuel poor areas in the county with the others being Ilfracombe Central, Bideford North and an unspecified area in Tiverton.
There are 49,073 households in fuel poverty in Devon with 31,970 of these in the County Council's governence.
Much of the issue is due to the high cost of gas, oil and coal prices as well as poor energy efficiency in UK homes with heat escaping through poorly insulated doors, walls and windows.
The Council believes that the issue is likely to get worse with latest estimates predicting that UK wide 1 in 3 households will be in fuel poverty by 2016.
Councillors raised concerns that cold homes are damaging the health of vulnerable members of society, including children, older people and people with disabilities.
Special concern was raised on diseases such as asthma and health issues such as strokes and heart attacks which can be aggravated by the cold. UK wide illnesses caused by cold homes cost the NHS nearly one billion pounds each year.
Recent figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that an estimated 31,100 excess winter deaths occurred in England and Wales in 2012/13 a 29% increase compared with the previous winter.
The majority of deaths occurred among those aged 75 and over, with 5,000 more females dying than males. Ten percent of these deaths occurred in the South West.
Councillors resolved to support the Energy Bill Revolution campaign which calls for the Government to recycle revenues from carbon taxes into improving the energy efficiency of UK homes.
The council also referred the issue to the Health and Wellbeing board for future discussion on the health implications on fuel poverty.
Cllr Croad also raised concerns that 58% of people had never switched provider or done research to get the best deal available for their fuel bill.
Next week Exeter Citizen’s Advice Bureau will be holding a range of events designed to help people save money on their energy bill as part of the charities Big Energy Saving Week.
“For the last decade Britain has experienced rising energy costs, partly due to moving from a country self-sufficient in gas to a country dependant on gas imports, coupled with environmental targets and the need to invest in an ageing energy infrastructure.” said John Pill of Exeter CAB.
“Due to the rising cost of energy it is important that people are on the best deal. Ofgem’s reforms which came into place on 2 Jan 2014 have been designed to help customers shop around for the cheapest deal. It is important that energy firms use this opportunity to regain customers’ trust, rather than end cheaper tariffs.”
Reforms from Ofgem, the UK’s energy watchdog, banned complex tariffs in order to make the choice for consumers easier and has said that from April 2014 further reforms will kick-in giving consumers clearer information about their energy
Mr Pill continued: “Citizens Advice Energy Best Deal project identified that 45% of people on low incomes had never switched energy suppliers and 59% had never switched to a different tariff with the same supplier.
There are a number of steps you can take to reduce your energy costs and energy usage. Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau will be helping people cut down their energy bills during the national Big Energy Saving Week, running 27-31 January 2014 with a series of Energy Saving Events.’’
Events will be held in Exeter’s Libraries with an event on Wednesday 29 January 2014 at St Thomas Library from 10am – 3pm and a second event on Friday 31st January 2014 at Central Library from 10am – 3pm.
Cabinet member for Community and Environmental Services Roger Croad says; "I think we've all seen a rise in our fuel bills over recent years and it's important for people to make sure they are on the best deal possible, especially the more vulnerable members of our society and those on lower incomes.
“The events at the libraries are there to do just that and I would encourage people to come along and see if they could make savings."
