The upcoming General Election provides a vital opportunity for policymakers to address the fuel poverty crisis and ensure vulnerable people are warm, safe and healthy at home. NEA NI is calling on all Northern Ireland candidates and parties to commit to 3 key actions at Westminster to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

This year’s UKFPM identifies the opportunities associated with decarbonising heat for fuel poor households; the barriers they face in doing so; the likely risks of the decarbonisation agenda for them; and which policy developments and interventions are required to ensure that the decarbonisation of domestic heating can be fair and affordable.

This guide is designed to be a practical and easy-to-use document that will help you identify the best solutions for householders in fuel poverty who are worried about keeping their homes warm and safe and paying their energy bills.

The Connecting Homes for Health pilot project was delivered by fuel poverty charity NEA, Northern Gas Networks and YES Energy Solutions. In what’s believed to be an industry first, it combined funding from the Fuel Poor Network Extension Scheme and Warm Home Discount Industry Initiatives to install free gas connections and central heating systems in over 100 properties in the North East of England whose residents were on low incomes and at risk of cold-related ill health. Residents also benefited from support and energy advice on how to use their new systems effectively, improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel bills.

The Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme currently provides a payment of £140 (inclusive of VAT) towards energy bills, and also contains provisions to carry out projects to help low-income and vulnerable households to better afford their energy bill. The scheme was introduced by the Government in April 2011 and is an obligation on energy suppliers funded through bills.