This figure for England, equating to around 10.4 per cent of all households, is down by 0.5 per cent from 2012, with the average fuel poverty gap falling from £385, in 2012, to £374, in 2013.
Just five per cent of English households in fuel poverty in 2013 lived in a property with an energy efficiency rating of band A , B or C, and almost one third (31 per cent) lived in G-rated properties.
The number of fuel poor households in England (as well as the fuel poverty gap) is projected to have remained broadly flat, increasing to 2.36 million in 2014, before decreasing to 2.34 million in 2015.
UK Figures
At the UK level, fuel poverty is still measured under the original "10 per cent" definition, as this is still the definition used by the administrations of the devolved nations, which provide DECC with their statistics.
The number of fuel poor households in the UK in 2013 was estimated at around 4.5 million, representing 17 per cent of all UK households. This is actually a small increase from 2012 levels of one percentage point, in contrast with the LIHC figures for England, which show a small decline.
The number and percentage of fuel pour households in each of the UK nations are given in the report as:
England:
2013: 2.73 million / 12% (cf. 10.4% under the LIHC definition)
2012: 2.61 million / 12%
Scotland:
2013: 0.94 million / 39%
2012: 0.84 million / 35%
Wales:
2013: No estimate available
2012: 0.39 million / * 30% *
Northern Ireland:
2013 / 2012: No estimate available
2011: 0.29 42%
(NB, the 2009 to 2013 fuel poverty figures for Wales as well as the 2010, 2012 and 2013 Northern Ireland figures are "based on estimates".)
Detailed Tables and Additional Indicators for England
DECC have also published a set of "Detailed Tables, along with "Additional Fuel Poverty Indicators" for England, under the LIHC definition.
The "headline findings given in these Detailed Tables are as follows:
Household tenure -
19 per cent of all private rented households are in fuel poverty, which is much higher than the equivalent proportions for owner occupiers (8%) and social renters (10%).
Private rented households and owner occupiers have higher fuel poverty gaps, on average, than social rented households (including local authority and RSL).
Household Composition -
Lone parents with dependent children are the group most likely to be fuel poor, with approximately a quarter being so in 2013.
However, they tend to have smaller fuel poverty gaps, on average, than other household types.
Age of Youngest Person -
Households with an under 16 year old are more likely to be fuel poor than households with only older people.
Age of Oldest Person -
Households where the oldest person in the household was aged 16-24 were more likely to be fuel poor.
As the age of the oldest person increases so does the average fuel poverty gap with the '75 or more' group having the largest average fuel poverty gap at £461.
Household size -
Households containing larger numbers of people (5 or more) tend to be both more likely to be fuel poor (26%), and be deeper in fuel poverty (with an average fuel poverty gap of £549).
Employment status -
Unemployed households tend to be much more likely to be fuel poor (nearly a third are) than those working households, but have a smaller average fuel poverty gaps.
Vulnerability -
Vulnerable households tend to be more likely to be fuel poor than non-vulnerable ones, and have larger fuel poverty gaps on average.
Payment method -
Households paying for their electricity or gas by pre-payment meter are more likely to be fuel poor than those paying by other methods. However, the fuel poverty gap is lowest for this group.
Direct debit customers have the lowest proportion in fuel poverty.
Region -
Households in the West Midlands are most likely to be fuel poor (with 14%), whilst those in the South West have the largest average fuel poverty gaps (at £447).
Dwelling type -
Households living in purpose-built flats are much less likely to be fuel poor (only 5% are) than those in other types of dwelling, and have the smallest average fuel poverty gaps.
End terrace houses have the highest proportion in fuel poverty (16%). Detached houses have the highest average fuel poverty gap £641.
Dwelling age -
Households in dwellings built before 1964 are more likely to be fuel poor than those in more modern dwellings, and also tend to have the largest average fuel poverty gaps.
The average fuel poverty gap for pre 1850s dwellings is over twice the average.
SAP 12 Band -
Households in the lower SAP bands have higher levels of fuel poverty. Bands F and G have considerably larger average fuel poverty gaps (£800 and £1274 respectively).
Boiler type -
Only 6 per cent of households with a condensing boiler are fuel poor. Those with a back boiler have a high proportion in fuel poverty, however, they have a lower average fuel poverty gap.
Wall type -
Those without cavity walls are more likely to be fuel poor (16%) and have the largest average fuel poverty gap (£477).
The additional indicators provided are:
Income Indicators:
- Disposable Income
- Children, work age and pension age adults living in households with low incomes (absolute and relative)
- Winter Fuel Payments
- Cold Weather Payments
- Actual expenditure on fuel (as percentage of total income)
- Fuel prices
- Number of customers on pre-payment meters
- Fuel Debt
- Customers switching supplier
- Indicator SAP Rating
- Excess winter deaths
- Number of insulated homes
- Local Authority housing investment on energy efficiency improvements
Also included is a table of "Fuel poverty trends: 2003-2013" for England
This gives details of fuel poverty levels broken down by the following criteria:
- Headline Figures
- Household Composition
- Household Size
- Age of Oldest Person
- Working Status
- Region
- Payment Method - Gas
- Payment Method - Electricity
- Banded SAP
- Tenure
- Age of Youngest Person
- Gas Grid Connection
- Wall Insulation
- Loft Insulation
- Boiler Type
- Central Heating
To download all four documents, as well as the reports and statistics for previous years, visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collectio ... statistics
For NEA's reaction to the figures, visit:
http://www.nea.org.uk/media/media-relea ... /290515-01
