Fuel Poverty reporting – problems and solutions

1. Fuel Poverty reporting – problems and solutions Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

2. Definition “a household is in fuel poverty if it is required to spend more than 10% of its income on all household fuel use” On this definition a household could be taken out of fuel poverty by having another child or becoming disabled Fuel Poverty Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

3. Fuel Poverty • Income – include housing cost? • Income – how do we assess? • Energy use – how accurate? • Fuel prices – which? Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

4. Eliminating Fuel Poverty • Excess winter deaths • General health • Social exclusion • Economic Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

5. Fuel Poverty in England (EHCS 2001) Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

6. Change in the number of households in fuel poverty 1998 - 2001 (EHCS 2001) Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

7. HECA fuel poverty reporting “The emphasis is on reporting by local authorities of their actions to help reduce fuel poverty in their communities through improved energy efficiency – in their own housing stock, and also in relation to other housing sectors – and on results achieved.” DETR 2000 Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

8. HECA fuel poverty reporting – authorities’ own budgets “The Department wishes to ensure…..that their fuel poverty reports include detailed numerical information concerning energy efficiency improvements undertaken through their own budgets, with a broad assessment of the likely impact on fuel poverty.” DETR 2000 Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

9. HECA fuel poverty reporting – authorities’ own budgets “….they might want to develop an indicator that said, for example, that all authority-owned housing with a SAP of less than”x” would be improved to at least “y” within 5 years.” DETR 2000 Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

10. Calculating when a household is in fuel poverty – the fuel poverty “threshold” Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

11. Determining incomes and running costs – accuracy? • Concerns about Warm Zone approach • Level 0 / Quick SAP gives fuel bills that are too high • Incomes tend to be understated Energy Audit Company

12. SAP figures – before & after work Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

13. CODAE“Capable of delivering affordable energy”(Newark and Sherwood Council) • 2 Bed or fewer – single over 60 • 3 Bed or more – 1 adult, 2 children • 2001 – 446 Council homes not affordable • 2002 – 198 Council homes not affordable Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

14. SAP targets – another approach Energy Audit Company

15. SAP targets “…for these reasons we have adopted a relatively simple target figure of a minimum SAP of 50, to be achieved within a 3 year programme for all housing owned by the authority.” (Alnwick District Council, HECA Fuel Poverty Report, July 2000) Energy Audit Company

16. SAP targets Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

17. Targeting the fuel poor Reporting on fuel poverty is only one aspect –can we target areas of housing or household types where fuel poverty is much more likely? “(Local authorities) can use a strategic stock maintenance approach, to identify the areas and properties where households are liable to be in, or at risk from, fuel poverty.” DETR 2000 Energy Audit Company

18. Main property features making fuel poverty more likely Bill Wilkinson Energy Audit Co.

19. Targeting by household type Energy Audit Company