Struggling to Pay Your Energy Bills?
Struggling to Pay Your Energy Bills?
If you are struggling to pay your energy bills and/or adequately heat your home then there are lots of ways to get help. Scroll to the bottom this page for a list of local and national contacts.
What is Fuel Poverty?
‘Fuel poverty means being unable to afford to keep warm. We consider a household to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10 percent of its income on fuel for adequate heating (usually 21 degrees for the main living area, and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms).’ – Department for Energy and Climate Change
Although this definition emphasises heating the home, fuel costs in the definition of fuel poverty also include spending on water heating, lighting, appliance usage and cooking costs.
Fuel poverty can affect people’s health and quality of life, and contribute to long-term illnesses.
What Causes Fuel Poverty?
Four main factors contribute to fuel poverty:
- Low household income
- The cost of energy
- The energy efficiency status of a house
- Inefficient use of energy in a home
How Many People Are In Fuel Poverty?
The government estimates that in 2008 (the latest statistics available) 15.6% (3.3 million) of households in England were living in fuel poverty. Around 2.7 million of these homes were classed as ‘vulnerable households’ meaning that they contained the elderly, children or somebody who is disabled or long term sick.
In the East Midlands this figures rises to 19.2% - the third highest of any region in England.
What are the Solutions to Fuel Poverty?
Between 2009 and 2010 E.ON ran a project called 'Challenge 100' which aimed to get 100 households out of fuel poverty in 100 days. They succeeded with 40 households.
The project focused on three areas: energy efficiency, income maximisation and energy price. Whilst all three are important in tackling fuel poverty, the area of work that made the biggest difference was energy efficiency, including physical measures such as installing insulation and ground source heat pumps, and advice on behaviour.
Where Can I Get Further Help?
If you are struggling to pay your bills and/or adequately heat your home then there are lots of ways to get help.
Advisors in your area:
(if your area isn’t listed, please contact the Energy Saving Trust: 0800 512 012)
Amber Valley:
Joanne Walker, Energy Officer:
Bassetlaw:
Kerri Ellis, Sustainability Officer:
Bolsover:
Natasha Potter, Energy Adviser:
Broxtowe:
Andy Pooley, Energy and Sustainability Manager:
Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire:
Lynda Jarvis, Domestic Energy Adviser:
Derby City:
Derby Home Energy Advice Service: / Helpine: 01332 255004.
Erewash:
Kay Kent, Home Energy Efficiency Officer:
High Peak:
Alison Gregory, Customer Services Advisor:
Mansfield:
Helen Bartle, Climate Change Manager:
Newark and Sherwood:
Newark and Sherwood Energy Agency: 0800 013 1689.
Chris Gilchrist, Energy & Environmental Awareness Officer:
Nottingham City:
Andy Whitley, Climate Change Offier, Neighbourhood Services:
Rushcliffe:
Sheila Hood, Community Energy Officer:
South Derbyshire:
Anita Hughes, Private Sector Housing Energy Advisor:
Find further sources of help on National Energy Action’s website. www.nea.org.uk/grants-help/.