Citizens Advice responds to latest fuel poverty figures

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive at national charity Citizens Advice said: “It is encouraging to see  that the number of people in fuel poverty has fallen. However, with over 4.7 million households in the UK still trapped in fuel poverty the numbers are not reducing fast enough and this news will be of little comfort to those who continue to live in freezing cold homes.

“Fuel poverty forces people to make a choice between heating their homes and going without other essentials or living in the cold. Living in a warm home should not be a luxury that only the well-off can afford.”

In order to eradicate fuel poverty Citizens Advice wants the Government to:

  • target the new energy company obligation part of the Green Deal much more significantly at people in fuel poverty;

  • include benefit entitlement checks in all statutory energy efficiency programmes;

  • bring forward to 2016 the introduction of the minimum energy efficiency standard for privately rented homes.

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website .

  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.

  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk . You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk

  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers

  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends

  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.