Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Fuel Poverty reporting – problems and solutions Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Fuel Poverty Definition “a household is in fuel poverty if it is required to spend more than 10% of its income on all household fuel use” On this definition a household could be taken out of fuel poverty by having another child or becoming disabled

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Fuel Poverty Income – include housing cost? Income – how do we assess? Energy use – how accurate? Fuel prices – which?

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Eliminating Fuel Poverty Excess winter deaths General health Social exclusion Economic

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Fuel Poverty in England (EHCS 2001) All households (000s) Total vulnerable (000s) Total in Fuel Poverty and vulnerable (000s) Social Housing 3,982 3, Private16,49810,8561,205 total20,48114,2751,455

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Change in the number of households in fuel poverty (EHCS 2001) 1998 (000s) 2001 (000s) Social Housing 975 (23%) 337 (9%) Private2,303 (14%) 1,425 (8.6%)

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. HECA fuel poverty reporting “The emphasis is on reporting by local authorities of their actions to help reduce fuel poverty in their communities through improved energy efficiency – in their own housing stock, and also in relation to other housing sectors – and on results achieved.” DETR 2000

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. HECA fuel poverty reporting – authorities’ own budgets “The Department wishes to ensure…..that their fuel poverty reports include detailed numerical information concerning energy efficiency improvements undertaken through their own budgets, with a broad assessment of the likely impact on fuel poverty.” DETR 2000

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. HECA fuel poverty reporting – authorities’ own budgets “….they might want to develop an indicator that said, for example, that all authority- owned housing with a SAP of less than”x” would be improved to at least “y” within 5 years.” DETR 2000

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Calculating when a household is in fuel poverty – the fuel poverty “threshold” Household typeFuel Poverty Threshold £ One over Two over 60s801 One adult one child533 One adult 2 children708 2 adults one child693 2 adults 2 children868

Energy Audit Company Determining incomes and running costs – accuracy? Concerns about Warm Zone approach Level 0 / Quick SAP gives fuel bills that are too high Incomes tend to be understated

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. SAP figures – before & after work SAP beforeSAP after StocktonNationalStocktonNational One over 60s Two over 60s One adult one child One adult 2 children adults one child adults 2 children

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. CODAE CODAE “Capable of delivering affordable energy” (Newark and Sherwood Council) 2 Bed or fewer – single over 60 3 Bed or more – 1 adult, 2 children 2001 – 446 Council homes not affordable 2002 – 198 Council homes not affordable

Energy Audit Company SAP targets – another approach Household Fuel Poverty Threshold £ Minimum SAP SAP Floor area +10% Suggested Minimum SAP One over Two over One adult one child One adult two children Two adults one child Two adults two children

Energy Audit Company SAP targets “…for these reasons we have adopted a relatively simple target figure of a minimum SAP of 50, to be achieved within a 3 year programme for all housing owned by the authority.” (Alnwick District Council, HECA Fuel Poverty Report, July 2000)

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. SAP targets Average SAP Average NHER SAP < 50Average GJ Alnwick District Council

Energy Audit Company Targeting the fuel poor Reporting on fuel poverty is only one aspect – can we target areas of housing or household types where fuel poverty is much more likely? “(Local authorities) can use a strategic stock maintenance approach, to identify the areas and properties where households are liable to be in, or at risk from, fuel poverty.” DETR 2000

Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co. Main property features making fuel poverty more likely Property featureFactor Lack of central heating4 No gas heating2 Uninsulated walls2

Energy Audit Company Targeting by household type Household type % households with fuel costs over 10% of income No of households with fuel costs over 10% of income (000s) Employed Unemployed Economically inactive23.61,834 One person aged 60 or more EHCS