This year’s UK Fuel Poverty Monitor (UKFPM) reviews the events that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they have impacted vulnerable energy consumers and the organisations that look to support them, cataloguing the response to this challenge from these organisations. It concludes with an investigation of the policies, strategies and other key actions that are urgently needed to address the impact of the pandemic this winter and beyond.

This short paper, outlines our key priorities for the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review to create warmer and healthier homes, help stimulate the economy, reduce poor air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

NEA response to Ofgem’s self-disconnection and self-rationing final proposals

In response to the NAO’s report7 in 2018 on smart meters we highlighted our concern that the smart meter roll-out was significantly back-loaded.

This short briefing highlights the key commitments NEA Cymru would like to see reflected in the consultation and final strategy, to renew the Welsh Government’s commitment to end fuel poverty and rejuvenate efforts by a range of key stakeholders around this crucial cause.

Respiratory and circulatory diseases are linked to living in a cold and damp home and amongst those living with fuel debt. NEA believes that given the outbreak, it’s now even more crucial to help keep people warm and well in their homes and create a living environment which gives people that are ill the best possible chance of recovery.

It is imperative that prepayment meter (PPM) customers continue to receive protection. It is therefore clear that the prepayment cap must continue after its upcoming termination in the form of a CMA regulated cap.

Improved insulation and heating standards are seen as the most rational and sustainable means of mitigating heating price increases and ensuring affordable warmth. While we must decarbonise our energy system, we must also ensure that the needs of those on lower incomes and experiencing fuel poverty should be protected. We commend both Councils for designing and developing this strategy and have also made some comments to the questions posed in the consultation.

NEA recognises that many low-income households experience affordability issues with their essential household bills, rarely struggling with one bill in isolation, and as a result is delivering a programme of work which seeks to support ‘People Living in Water Poverty and Fuel Poverty’.