Fuel Poverty
- Definition
- Incidence of fuel poverty in the UK
- Incidence of fuel poverty in Haringey
- Causes of Fuel Poverty
- Who is affected?
A household is defined as being in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would be required to spend more than 10% of its income (including Housing Benefit or Income Support for Mortgage Interest) on all household fuel use.
There is quite considerable debate as to what should be included when considering income and also whether income should be calculated before or after housing costs have been deducted. Varying how income is calculated can significantly affect the proportion of people in an area defined as being in fuel poverty.
Within Haringey we classify any household as being in fuel poverty where the occupants are unable to heat the property to a sufficient degree to ensure comfort.
Incidence of fuel poverty in the UK
| Income Definition Used | Number in Fuel Poverty | % in Fuel Poverty |
|---|---|---|
| All Household Income | 4.3 million households | 22% |
| Excluding ISMI and HB | 5.3 million households | 27% |
| Excluding all housing costs | 6.8 million households | 35% |
Incidence of Fuel Poverty in Haringey
The data given in the table below was obtained by using the Fuel Poverty Indicator developed by the University of Bristol in conjunction with the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
More information on the calculator can be found by following the link to the Centre for Sustainable Energy website provided within the external links section at the bottom of the page.
Fuel poverty is caused by several factors:
- Inadequate access to information
- Inefficient heating systems
- Inadequate insulation
- Poor housing stock
- High Fuel Prices
Who is affected by Fuel Poverty?
Fuel poverty can potentially affect anyone. However the following table illustrates the incidences of fuel poverty typically found in the following household types:
| Household Type | 1996 | 1998 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Younger Couple | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Older Couple | 14% | 20% | 13% |
| Couple with children | 8% | 8% | 4% |
| Lone Parent | 10% | 6% | 8% |
| Adult Households | 12% | 11% | 13% |
| One Younger Person | 16% | 11% | 16% |
| Single Older Person | 36% | 37% | 40% |
Useful External Links
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Update MePage Last Updated: 22 May 2008
This page belongs to the following categories :
- Environment > Energy
- Environment > Energy > Energy conservation
