Warm Home Prescription

National Energy Action’s Warm Home Prescription programme provides direct, practical support for households that are medically reliant on their gas or electricity supply. Through the years we have worked with a number of partners and funders within this programme but one clear theme has emerged: interventions in fuel poverty equal interventions in health and wellbeing.

Medical dependence on energy can look different in many cases. Sometimes someone will need to run specialist medical equipment in their home such as a ventilator, home dialysis or nebulizers. They may need to use equipment at home that allows them to remain mobile, such as a stairlift. They may need to store medication in their fridge, making awareness of supply without disruption essential. And sometimes health conditions change our energy habits – from having to do more loads of washing, to needing baths instead of showers, and needing heating on for longer to reduce flare ups.

The estimated hourly electricity cost to run the following medical and support devices ranges from 0.1p to 20.9p per hour, calculated using the UK average electricity price cap unit rate of 26.11p per kWh.

Hourly running costs (by device)

• Careline/telecare system (3W–10W): 1p – 0.3p per hour
• Feeding pump/automated medication (15W–30W): 4p – 0.8p per hour
• Sleep apnoea monitor/CPAP (30W–60W): 8p – 1.6p per hour
• Heart, lung or ventilator machine (50W–300W): 3p – 7.8p per hour
• Medicine refrigeration (dedicated small or standard fridge) (50W–100W): 3p – 2.6p per hour (Note: Runs on a duty cycle, so actual hourly energy consumed over 24 hours is lower)
• Electric bed (50W–200W): 3p – 5.2p per hour (Active adjustment only)
• Nebuliser (60W–100W): 6p – 2.6p per hour
• Stairlift (100W–300W): 6p – 7.8p per hour (When actively moving)
• Bath hoist (100W–200W): 6p – 5.2p per hour (When actively operating)
• Oxygen concentrator (300W–400W): 8p – 10.4p per hour
• Dialysis machine (500W–800W): 1p – 20.9p per hour

To find out more about our work in the healthcare space, please see our Warm Homes, Healthy Futures plan.

Standard Licence Condition 26 states that suppliers must establish and maintain a Priority Services Register (PSR) and provide eligible customers (particularly those in vulnerable situations) with certain free non-financial support services. The PSR is offered by energy suppliers, electricity and gas networks and water companies in England, Wales and Scotland.

Many customers rely on powered medical devices such as oxygen concentrators, dialysis machines, feeding pumps or stairlifts. The PSR helps ensure network operators know who needs priority reconnection and additional support.

National Energy Action’s Training team offers a one-hour spotlight session to help frontline staff identify vulnerable customers who may benefit from the PSR and provides the knowledge and confidence to support them with registration and access to additional services.

People with terminal illnesses are among the most vulnerable to fuel poverty, yet they are often the least likely to access support. The ‘NG6: Cold Homes, Terminal Illness, and How to Support Clients’ spotlight provides frontline energy advisers, caseworkers and support staff with the knowledge and confidence to identify risk, understand the health impacts of cold homes, and apply key elements of NICE Guideline NG6 to improve outcomes for clients at the end of life.

Participants will explore lived experiences, learn how to apply NG6 recommendations, and understand the practical tools and support schemes available – including the Warm Home Prescription –  to help clients stay warm, safe, and supported.