Action on Energy provides an update on fuel poverty and home energy efficiency for Fuel Poverty Awareness Day
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day 2023 on the 30th of November 2023 came a week after the Ofgem news that the energy price cap is set to rise from 1st January 2024. Fuel Poverty Awareness Day serves as a day for people and organisations to discuss the impacts of fuel poverty across the UK and the action we can take to provide support. The Ofgem announcement means that the rate of fuel poverty is likely to increase.
Every three months, Ofgem reviews and sets a level, or price cap, on how much energy a supplier can charge for each unit of energy. They report that from 1st January 2024 the price for energy a typical household who use gas and electricity and pay by Direct Debit will go up by £94. This therefore increases the price cap from £1,834, as it is currently, to £1,928 per year.
This means that ‘from the 1st January 2024, for a typical user paying by direct debit, the unit rate will be 29p/kWh for electricity and 7p/kWh for gas. The average daily standing charge will be 53p/day for electricity and 30p/day for gas.’
Ofgem also reports that this increase is because the cost of wholesale gas has risen in recent months due to current global events.
Some of the Ofgem resources this article points to are:
- The average gas and electricity use explained page.
- The price cap levels comparison from 1 October to 31 December 2023 to 1 January to 31 March 2024.
- The background of the price cap policy.
Read the full ‘changes to the energy price cap’ news article here.
To raise awareness for fuel poverty and share resources available to Cambridgeshire residents who may be experiencing fuel poverty or are concerned about high energy bills, Action on Energy shared relevant material supported by National Energy Action (NEA) on Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.
The NEA defines fuel poverty as a household needing to use 10% of their income on keeping their home warm.
The NEA says that since the energy crisis began in October 2021, the average energy bill has increased. They estimate that 6.3 million UK households are currently in fuel poverty, up from an estimate of 4.5 million UK households in October 2021.
To learn more, read the NEA full article on ‘what is fuel poverty?’ here.
The NEA also provides the opportunity to donate a winter warmth pack, which you can find out more about here.
Action on Energy is committed to providing information and support for increasing home energy efficiency across Cambridgeshire.
On the Action on Energy website Cambridgeshire residents can find:
- Information on current funding schemes.
- The grant funding application form.
- Guidance and installation
- Information on our procured energy efficiency contractors.
- Case studies on home energy efficiency measures.
- Information on installation protections.
- Information on planning and building control.
- Wider support including advice on where to go if you are struggling with the cost of living.
- A regularly updated news and events
- A get in touch page to talk to a member of the team.
This information is aimed to be helpful regardless of whether you pursue a funding route or self-fund to increase your home energy efficiency, reduce your carbon emissions and save money on your energy bills.
If you are worried about your energy bills, please do visit our funding and wider support website pages.
