Over the last number of months, NEA has experienced a significant rise in the number of households seeking emergency support. Unfortunately, we expect this trend to continue as we believe as many as 40% of households might now be struggling due to the spiralling energy costs. Ahead of the upcoming Assembly Election, NEA are calling on politicians to commit to tackling the Energy Crisis head on. Below, we outline our key asks which we believe will assist in easing the pressures on vulnerable households in Northern Ireland, both in the short and longer term.

NEA welcome the opportunity to respond to the Department for Economy’s Consultation on ‘Heat Networks – Building a market framework’.

Water UK has announced the domestic water bill in England and Wales will rise by as much at 10.8% from 1st April.

NEA’s response to the BEIS Call for Evidence on the future of the energy market on a green gas levy.

NEA broadly agrees with plans to phase out fossil heating, but BEIS must ensure that homes off the gas grid receive adequate support to decarbonise, including through funding hybrid heating technologies; ensure that there is sufficient awareness and advice around any move to transition away from fossil fuels in off gas homes.

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.

NEA’s Response to the BEIS Consultation on the Warm Home Discount Scheme 2022-26.

NEA welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs ‘Call for Evidence and views on the Climate Change Bill’. In principle NEA believe that Northern Ireland has a responsibility to contribute equitably to reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions in a bid to achieve the UK Net Zero targets.

For many households, the cost of energy has relatively little impact on how much energy is used in the home. However, for households living on a low income, energy usage makes up a significant portion of the household expenditure. Northern Ireland continues to have amongst the lowest levels of household income across the UK and the highest weekly household expenditure on energy of any UK region. Taken in conjunction with challenging economic conditions as well as the ongoing global pandemic, many families continue to face challenges with meeting their energy costs.