We recently put out a survey on fuel poverty, which is the inability to afford to keep your home heated. The results are in, and we wish to share them with you, as you may find some of these shocking.
Here is a video clip you can also watch, giving you an overview of the research completed.
1) Who had experienced fuel poverty?
Fuel Poverty Chart
Experienced fuel poverty (72%)
No fuel poverty indicators (28%)
Almost three quarters of people who took our survey had experienced fuel poverty.
2) Who had experienced food poverty?
experienced food poverty chart
Had not experienced food poverty (51%)
Experienced food poverty (49%)
Almost half of people who took our survey had experienced at least one form of food poverty.
3) Disability status of respondents
disability status chart
Not disabled (67%)
Disabled & in fuel poverty (28%)
Disabled and not in fuel poverty (5%)
Our survey showed disabled people in Knowsley are significantly more likely to be suffering from fuel poverty.
4) Percentage experiencing fuel poverty by housing status
percentage experience fuel poverty chart
Those in social housing had a significantly higher chance of being in fuel poverty.
5) Type of energy meter
type of engergy meter chart
No meter (59.6%)
Pre-payment for gas and electricity (33.33%)
Pre-payment for gas only (4.04%)
Pre-payment for electric only (5%)
The number of people using pre-payment meters that had rationed energy or used the Local Authority Scheme was around double those with no meter.
6) Job seekers allowance and fuel poverty
job seekers allowance fuel poverty chart
All respondents receiving Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) had used extra clothes instead of heating and 71% had used the local authority scheme.
86% of people receiving Job Seekers Allowance had rationed energy and gone out instead of putting the heating on.
We would like to thank June Rawlinson from North Liverpool Citizens Advicefor all the support she has given us in writing our report. This report was written in conjunction with the fuel poverty research that has taken place with the North Liverpool Citizens Advice team.
Download Report: The Heating or Eating Quandary – Winter 2015/16 (PDF File)
Big Energy Saving Week started on 31st October 2016. It is a national campaign to help people cut their fuel bills and get all the financial support they are entitled to.
Big Energy Saving Week
The week focuses on raising public awareness of how to switch energy supplier or tariff to get the best deal and make homes energy efficient. This is the sixth Big Energy Saving Week and is a partnership between Citizens Advice, the Energy Saving Trust and the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy with the support of numerous organisations, charities and companies.
Check Switch Save
For more information: Big Energy Saving Week
Campaign Results
We used this research to contribute to the wider research which was collated by North Liverpool on fuel poverty. You can read their report here.
Locally we presented the information to several partners at the Knowsley Extreme Weather Planning Network Group. You can read our report here (PDF File).
We now are part of the extreme weather planning group and we regularly put out messages for our clients to keep them safe. We also promote the Winter Warm events through Knowsley Council.
We promoted the campaign on the Big Energy Saving Week in October 2016 so that more and more people know about the work we do.