NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

The Home Energy Conservation Act, and particularly the new duty to report on programmes to tackle fuel poverty, allied to wider housing responsibilities, make local authorities key strategic partners. Devolution - new structures in Wales and Northern Ireland, plus the development of regional government in England - will open up fresh avenues for intervention.

A particular priority will be to identify and promote good practice in co-ordination of services to fuel poor households, especially developing one-stop shop schemes, exploiting the potential of the Warm Front grant scheme, fuel company activities, Social Action Plan requirements, home improvement grants and encouraging private landlords to make heating and insulation improvements.

Local authorities have a key role to play in this process. In recognition of this, NEA has developed a range of services which can help to raise awareness of fuel poverty at a local level:

• provision of advice and information to authorities which are NEA members
• assistance in developing affordable warmth strategies
• training for front-line staff and policy workshops for managers and elected members
• regional fuel poverty forums.

Additionally, NEA has produced a discussion paper, Assessing fuel poverty, which considers different approaches to calculating the extent of the problem in an area. Finding accurate and effective methods of assessment is crucial if schemes to alleviate fuel poverty are to be successful. Knowing how many, and how severely, households are affected can not only impact on the design and delivery of programmes, but also influences targeting and monitoring performance.

To download the discussion paper, click here.

Scheme Integration

The Practical help website contains a briefing note and four case studies to guide and promote the successful integration of schemes with domestic energy and/or fuel poverty objectives, combining services or funding from more than one source. These will be of particular interest to HECA Officers and Energy Managers, and all those involved in the management and development of fuel poverty and sustainable energy schemes, which try to extend provision. These documents can be obtained by clicking here.

Reviewed: 04/04/2005