Today’s Spending Review has confirmed the UK Government will continue to invest in upgrading the UK’s buildings to make people warmer and more comfortable, and our homes cheaper to heat.

Fuel Poverty Charity, NEA has urged all the key stakeholders with responsibility for delivery of services to ensure that all our efforts are co-ordinated to support people to stay warm and well this winter.

Following on from the June 2020 NEA policy paper “The Gathering Storm: Utility Debt and Covid-19”, this paper provides an evidence synthesis of personal debt, both prior and post the Covid-19 outbreak, with a focus on the shift from consumer debt, such as loans and credit cards, to household debts, such as arrears with utility providers, offering a comparison of known debt levels in energy, water and local government.

At NEA our priority is to ensure that everyone is able to live in a warm home. This remains important, particularly when people may be spending more time at home or facing uncertainties regarding income.  However we also do not want to put anyone at unnecessary risk.

This newsletter is sponsored by the Public Health Agency through our Northern Exposure project. It will provide you with current programmes of work aimed at providing advice or support to householders as well as up to date fuel poverty policy information.

While we understand that, at present, the key focus for the Department is to ensure that the Single Electricity Market (SEM) is maintained and fully operational after the implementation period. We also note that issues such as retail, consumer vulnerability and fuel poverty issues are an integral part of the Electricity Directive and Clean Energy Package as a whole and the translation of these issues have been paused and are to be considered under the new energy strategy.

I’m delighted to be able to share our new website with you.

You may be worried about managing your energy use and costs during the Coronavirus outbreak. Here is some information to help householders in Northern Ireland.

The UK Government has today confirmed the immediate future of the Warm Home Discount (WHD) energy rebate scheme which was due to end in March 2021 and has now been extended for a year.