Contact: Michael Potter
Today UK Government published its long-awaited Fuel Poverty Strategy for England. The UK Government began consulting on the strategy in July 2019, some 18 months ago. It sets out how it will meet its legal target to ‘improve as many fuel poor homes as is reasonably practicable to a minimum energy efficiency rating of EPC Band C, by the end of 2030’.
All nations of the UK are expected to have updated fuel poverty strategies and plans in 2021, providing a rare opportunity to focus on how to achieve affordable warmth across the whole of the United Kingdom.
Adam Scorer, Chief Executive of fuel poverty charity National Energy Action, said:
“This is overdue, but it’s still very welcome.
“Progress to meet the statutory target and near-term milestones has been flatlining. We needed vital clarity about how Government intends to meet its legal targets. This strategy helps and will support a range of public and private organisations to plan effectively and collaborate to help end fuel poverty. Critically, the strategy confirms that Government is committed to the scale of resources we need to start to meet the challenge of ending fuel poverty.
“The opportunities and challenges that have emerged around the Green Homes Grant programme show just how much we need a long-term strategic approach to delivering affordable warm homes. To make urgent progress we also need affordable, warm homes to become a real public health priority, greater price protection for low-income energy consumers, continuation of the universal credit uplift and urgent provision to help households move out of problem debt.
“The strategy also shows how action for affordable, warm homes can be fixed into the net zero challenge. In particular, Home Upgrade Grants could be hugely important for households in off-grid communities who tend to fall through every gap in provision and may now have low carbon solutions available to them”.
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- NEA is the national fuel poverty charity, working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure everyone can stay warm, safe and healthy at home. www.nea.org.uk
- ‘Sustainable warmth: protecting vulnerable households in England’ is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fuel-poverty-strategy-for-england
