Ministerial Round Table on fuel poverty

Age Cymru will say to the round table:

Older people are the group most likely to suffer from fuel poverty. On average there are around 1,600 excess winter deaths each year in Wales. At the root of many deaths are cold, badly insulated homes.

There are three main factors which influence whether a household will be in fuel poverty: income, energy prices and the energy efficiency of their property. The first two factors are controlled by the UK Government, whilst the third is within the powers of the Welsh Government.

Given the likelihood that energy prices will continue to rise, the UK and Welsh Governments must put investment into improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock, beginning with the least energy efficient, funded from the new receipts UK Government will receive from carbon taxes.

Targets can help to focus the efforts of a range of organisations so we believe the Welsh Government should consider an ambitious new fuel poverty target. This should be rooted in delivery and based on improving a number of low income homes to a minimum EPC rating of C each year.
Action plans produced by Public Service Boards and Regional Partnership Boards should detail how they will reduce levels of fuel poverty.

For more information contact Valerie Billingham on 029 2043 1545