Posted by: jsharpe on May 28, 2015 in Industry News Leave a comment 2.35 million English households lived in fuel poverty in 2013 The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has released newĀ statistics which show 2.35 million English households lived in fuel povertyĀ in 2013. This wasĀ aĀ slightĀ improvement in fuel poverty levels in England, down from 2.36 million in 2012 TheĀ annual report from 2013 also shows aĀ combination of rising incomes and energy efficiency improvements in low income households has seen a decrease in the fuel poverty gap from Ā£909 million in 2012 to Ā£877 million in 2013, with an overall reduction of Ā£32 million. Under the Low Income High Costs definition, a household is considered to be fuelĀ poor if: ⢠they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level) ⢠were they to spend that amount, they would be left with a residual income belowĀ the official poverty line. Unlike the previous indicator measuring fuel poverty (the 10% indicator), the LowĀ Income High Costs definition is a relative measure as it compares households to theĀ national median bill and income ā thereby ensuring the contemporary trends areĀ reflected in both these measures. The key findings from the report were: ⢠In 2013, the number of households in fuel poverty in England was estimated atĀ 2.35 million, representing approximately 10.4% of all English households.Ā This is broadly unchanged from 2.36 million households in 2012 (a change ofĀ around 0.5%). ⢠The aggregate fuel poverty gap fell by four% in real terms, from Ā£909 millionĀ in 2012 to Ā£877 million in 2013, and the average fuel poverty gap also reduced inĀ real terms over this period, from Ā£385 to Ā£374. ⢠Rising incomes and improvements in energy efficiency amongst fuel poorĀ households, and a smaller increase in fuel bills than experienced in the populationĀ as a whole has meant there has been a decrease in the fuel poverty aggregateĀ and average gap. ⢠In 2013, five% of fuel poor households were living in a property with anĀ energy efficiency rating of band C or above, compared to two% in 2010. InĀ addition, there was an increase in the proportion of households in band D and aĀ reduction in fuel poor households in bands E and F. ⢠The depth and likelihood of being fuel poor increases markedly with lower SAPĀ scores. In 2013, 31%of households living in G rated properties were in fuelĀ poverty, with an average fuel poverty gap of Ā£1,274. This is compared to thoseĀ living in properties with SAP ratings A-C where just two% were fuel poorĀ and an average fuel poverty gap of Ā£370. ⢠Households living in privately rented accommodation have continued to have theĀ highest fuel poverty rates, whilst owner occupied households have had the lowestĀ rates of fuel poverty. This pattern has been consistent since 2003. The depth ofĀ fuel poverty is largest for owner occupied properties and smallest for householdsĀ living in local authority properties (with average fuel poverty gaps of Ā£459 and £199 respectively). ⢠All fuel poor households come from the bottom four income decile groups. InĀ 2013, around 40%Ā of each of the bottom two deciles were fuel poor asĀ were 13%Ā of the third and fourth deciles (combined). ⢠Unemployed households have the highest rates of fuel poverty across allĀ economic activity groups. This pattern has been consistent since 2003, with atĀ least 30% of all unemployed households, but less than 10% of working households in fuel poverty over this time. ⢠Lone parent households have consistently been more likely to be in fuel poverty.Ā In 2013, 25% were fuel poor. However, the depth of fuel poverty wasĀ lowest in this group (with an average fuel poverty gap of Ā£280). ⢠The level of fuel poverty was greatest amongst groups where the youngestĀ member of the household was aged 16-24. In 2013, 23% were fuel poor. ⢠The number of fuel poor households is projected to remain broadly flat. ⢠The aggregate fuel poverty gap is projected to remain flat in 2014 and thenĀ increase to Ā£902 million in 2015. The average gap is also projected remain flat inĀ 2014 before increasing to Ā£386 in 2015. ⢠New analysis explored the impact of using actual annual external temperatures inĀ the modelling of fuel poverty. It was found the number of households in fuelĀ poverty would have been 2.42 million in 2013, using this method. However, theĀ use of a standardised set of temperatures is preferred for the headline statistics,Ā for assessing long term changes to levels of fuel poverty and identifying whereĀ improvements can be made. Click here to read the full report Share ! tweet