Fuel poverty kills thousands of people in the UK each winter. It means being unable to afford to heat a home to a safe and comfortable level, typically when 10% or more of household net income is spent on fuel. It damages our health, wellbeing and educational attainment and makes it hard for people to participate in society and the economy.
For decades, around 10% of UK households, or millions of homes, have been affected by fuel poverty. This year, the cost of living crisis, including a spike in gas prices as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has prompted a surge in the number of households struggling to afford heat and electricity.
