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Fragile progress on English fuel poverty as millions remain under pressure

New figures show a small improvement in fuel poverty levels in England, based on official measures, but the overall picture remains deeply concerning.

Two main numbers are used to report fuel poverty in England. The “official definition,” called the LILEE measure, is based on an analysis of income, energy costs and home energy efficiency.

The second is “the 10% measure” which tracks how many households spend more than 10% of their income on energy after housing costs. We prefer this because it’s more understandable (and can apply across UK nations).

The figures show:

  • 2.36 million households (9.4%) were in fuel poverty in 2025 based on the official (LILEE) measure, down slightly from 2.47 million (9.9%) in 2024. This is driven by progress on energy efficiency, with 65.2% of low-income households now in EPC band C or above, up from 62.6%.

  • The fuel poverty gap remains largely unchanged at around £379 per household.

  • A new affordability measure shows households spent 6.8% of income on energy on average, falling from 7.5%, but for low-income households this remains far higher at 14.9%.

  • Meanwhile, 7.6 million households (30.4%) in England still spend more than 10% of their income on energy, down from 8.55 million in 2024. This is consistent with EFPC / University of York estimates of these figures for this period. The measure is the most sensitive to market prices, which enables live updates to the headline number.

A spokesperson for the the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:

“These figures show just how fragile progress on fuel poverty really is and how quickly it could go into reverse.

“Millions of households are still struggling and the gap needed to escape fuel poverty has barely shifted, meaning families are continuing to ration their heating.

“With energy prices set to rise from 1 July – and heating oil and LPG costs already hitting 1.7 million off-gas-grid households – we are likely to see more people pushed into difficulty.

“Across the UK, we estimate that well over 13 million households will be struggling with their energy bills as a result of the current oil and gas price crisis.

“This is history repeating itself. Ministers must act now with targeted support, faster home upgrades and reforms to energy pricing so households are no longer exposed to volatile fossil fuel markets.”

The Coalition’s proposals focus on targeted support for households most exposed to high energy costs now, while retaining the ability to scale up support if the crisis deepens.

Immediate measures include a longer-term Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for households using heating oil, LPG and other off-gas fuels, alongside support for heat network customers facing rising commercial energy costs.

We are also calling for a targeted reduction in energy unit rates from July if the price cap rises, faster rollout of a national energy debt relief scheme, and reforms to the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments so support reaches vulnerable households earlier.

Ministers must also accelerate electricity pricing reform and be ready to introduce wider support quickly if the situation worsens.

Social workers paying for people’s heating out of their own pockets

Research by the Social Workers Union has found that hundreds of social workers have felt compelled to personally fund basic essentials for the people they support, including food, clothing and energy prepayment meter top-ups.

Three quarters of union members who were affected by the issue were unable to claim back the costs they incurred. More than a quarter said they were dipping into their own pockets every month, with over a third saying it had put their own finances at risk.

Despite most social workers attempting to access foodbanks, council support funds and local charities, seven in ten emergencies left no time to navigate complex or slow bureaucratic systems. The Social Workers Union has warned that the Government’s new Crisis and Resilience Fund in England, due to begin on 1 April, may not go far enough to prevent social workers continuing to plug these gaps themselves.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Asked why they had resorted to providing direct financial support to service users, one social worker told researchers: “There are often several forms to fill out to request financial support which are declined anyhow by managers. To save time – something we don’t often have – I’ve paid for items myself.”

John McGowan, Social Workers Union (SWU) General Secretary, has warned the findings expose a “broken support system”:

“It cannot be right that social workers are left to plug the gaps in a broken support system with their own money. The data paints a stark picture of a safety net riddled with delays and gaps. The true test of the new Fund moving forward will be to see if it means that local and national governments act urgently to ensure help is there when it is needed.”

The Crisis and Resilience Fund is due to be used by the Government to also provide support to households using heating oil, this has now been extended to include homes who are reliant on LPG gas after pressure from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“These findings are a damning indictment of a support system that is failing people at their most vulnerable. When social workers are reaching into their own pockets to top up prepayment meters and keep someone’s heating on, that is not a gap in the system, it is a collapse.

“The new Crisis and Resilience Fund is a step forward, and the confirmation by Ministers that it will extend to households on heating oil and LPG in England is welcome. For the first time, some of the most exposed households, those off the gas grid and outside the protection of the energy price cap, will have access to emergency support.

“But the Fund will only work if it reaches people in time. Seven in ten emergencies left no time to navigate slow or complex systems. The Government must ensure the Fund is fast, accessible and properly resourced, so that social workers are never again left to pay for someone’s heating out of their own pocket.”

New homes set for solar and clean heat as Ministers accelerate energy shift

The Government has confirmed the long-awaited Future Homes Standard alongside plans to bring plug-in solar to market, in a package aimed at reducing households’ exposure to volatile oil and gas prices.

From 2028, most new homes will include clean heating, high levels of energy efficiency and rooftop solar, marking a significant step forward after years of delay. Garry Felgate, chief executive of the MCS Foundation, said the move was “very good news” for energy security and “countless” households, with research suggesting savings of more than £1,000 for a typical family.

Ed Matthew of E3G called it “a critical step in helping the British people to take back control of their energy from fossil fuel dictators,” but warned the Government should have acted faster.

The standard will not be fully in force until March 2028 following a two-year transition, meaning more homes will still be built with gas boilers in the meantime, while exemptions mean some will not include solar.

The policy also falls short of full zero carbon standards, and there are risks developers could dilute ambition over time. Jess Ralston at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit warned ministers may need to keep standing up to housebuilders seeking to meet the rules as cheaply as possible, potentially storing up higher costs for homeowners later.

Alongside the Future Homes announcement, Ministers confirmed plans to roll out plug-in solar that could offer modest savings for some households, but may face practical barriers around cost, space and planning permissions.

More broadly, additional funding for retrofit and the launch of a new Warm Homes Fund point to growing momentum behind efforts to upgrade existing homes, particularly through local and area-based programmes.

At the same time, proposals to offer cheaper electricity in windy areas could help some households benefit from abundant renewable power, although they also underline the need for longer-term investment in the grid and reform of electricity pricing to ensure clean heating delivers consistent savings.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented:

“These are all clearly steps in the right direction. More accessible solar energy and building cheap to run homes with clean heating as standard should have happened years ago.

“For the households who benefit, it will mean warmer homes and permanently lower bills, while reducing our exposure to volatile oil and gas markets.

“But we cannot solve a national crisis by focusing only on homes that haven’t been built yet and new technology. Millions of people are still stuck in cold, damp homes today, facing rising bills as global fossil fuel prices surge again.

“Ministers now need to match this ambition with a nationwide programme to upgrade existing homes, starting with those in fuel poverty, alongside targeted financial support and reform of electricity pricing so people actually see the benefits in their bills.”

Chancellor confirms energy bill support planning

The Chancellor has confirmed that contingency planning is under way for targeted energy bill support ahead of the expiry of the current Ofgem price cap at the end of June, as rising oil and gas prices driven by the Iran conflict threaten to push household bills higher from July.

Rachel Reeves told MPs that her approach to providing support would be responsive to the need and responsible in terms of protecting public finances.

The Chancellor said that support would be focused on those who need it most, indicating a preference for targeted help over a blanket approach. She pointed to the costs of the broad energy support package introduced during the Ukraine crisis as a reason to take a more focused approach.

A spokesperson for End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:
“Households need to know what the Chancellor’s ‘responsive and responsible’ mantra means in practice.

“The immediate priority must be a new Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for off-gas-grid households, price protection for heat network customers, action on record levels of energy debt and targeted reductions in unit rates from July for households including those with disabilities and long-term health concerns.

“The Chancellor must also commit to expanding and extending the Warm Homes Discount and reforming Cold Weather Payments before winter.

“The money is there. North Sea profits are rising alongside the same gas prices pushing up household bills. Being responsible with public finances means using subsequent tax revenues now to protect people, not waiting until the damage is done.“

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition recommended that the Government introduce a new, longer-term, Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for households relying on heating oil, LPG and other off-gas-grid fuels, as well as support for heat network customers who face rising commercial energy prices.

The proposal also recommends preparing a targeted reduction in energy unit rates from July if the Ofgem price cap rises significantly, alongside faster rollout of a national energy debt relief scheme to address record levels of household debt.

For the winter, the Coalition is calling for reforms to existing schemes including further expansion of the Warm Home Discount and strengthening Cold Weather Payments so support reaches vulnerable households earlier.

Ministers are also urged to speed up reform to electricity pricing and prepare a scalable universal support package that could be activated quickly if energy prices spike further.

Cobra must act on energy costs, not just talk

The Prime Minister has convened an emergency Cobra meeting to examine the cost-of-living impact of the Iran conflict, with oil and gas prices surging due to the threat of further escalation in the Middle East conflict.

For millions of households, the consequences are already landing. Heating oil prices have doubled in recent weeks for off-gas homes sitting outside the protection of the Ofgem price cap. And even before this latest spike, Cornwall Insight was already forecasting that average energy bills would rise to £1,973 from 1 July, a 20% increase on current levels and a figure that has almost certainly moved higher since.

The same price spike hitting households is generating a windfall for North Sea energy firms, and therefore for the Treasury through the Energy Profits Levy. New analysis published by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition shows that at prices seen in mid-March, those profits could generate over £200 million a month in additional Windfall Tax revenues, rising to more than £5 billion a year when combined with offshore corporation tax receipts.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said:

“People reliant on heating oil and gas cylinders to power their homes are already suffering from the oil and gas price spikes. Millions more households will face a 20% increase in their energy bills from July. For families who are already in debt and already struggling with energy bills, there is no more time to waste.

“North Sea energy firms are on course to make bumper profits as a direct result of this crisis, potentially generating hundreds of millions of pounds a month in additional Windfall Tax revenues at current prices. That money should be used to protect households from the bill rises heading their way. Every lever available includes the levers that take money from those profiting from this crisis and put it into the pockets of those suffering because of it.

“The Government should come out of the Cobra meeting with a clear commitment to targeted support for the households most at risk. The framework for that support must be ready to activate the moment the July price cap is confirmed. The lesson of the last energy crisis is that acting too slowly costs far more in the long run, both for households and for the public finances. The time to prepare that emergency support package is now.”

North Sea profits spike should be used to offset energy bill rises

North Sea energy firms are set to make bumper profits, which would lead to increased revenues for the Government under the Windfall Tax, according to new figures reported exclusively in the Mirror.

Fossil fuel costs surged again late last week as attacks on energy sites in Iran and Qatar were followed by threats from US President Donald Trump to “massively blow up” a key Iranian gas field.

The data shows that for every month that energy prices remain at levels seen on 18th March 2026, profits from these prices could result in over £200m in revenue through the Energy Profits Levy. If prices stayed at this level, this would result in annual income of over £2.4bn. [1]

If combined with additional offshore corporation tax revenue on energy firms’ profits, the totals increase even further to £427m a month or £5.1bn a year. [2]

While the Ofgem energy price cap is set to fall slightly from April 2026, rising wholesale gas prices mean bills will rise sharply again from 1 July. Some households are already feeling the impact of rising costs. Off-gas households relying on heating oil have reported refill prices doubling in recent weeks, LPG customers are facing rising prices and some heat network customers could soon face steep increases as energy supply contracts expire.

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has recently asked the Government to prepare an emergency energy support framework to protect households from rising gas and oil prices which will filter onto energy bills [3].

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:

“Anyone still arguing against the Energy Profits Levy should hang their head in shame. Whenever oil and gas prices spike, energy industry profits rise while households are left to face higher bills, deeper debt and impossible choices.

“It is only fair that these windfall profits help households who will suffer as a result of the increases in energy bills.

“Our message to ministers is simple. Help the hardest-hit households first and be ready to move fast if this crisis gets worse. That means urgent support for off-gas homes and heat network customers, targeted bill cuts if prices rise again, action on energy debt and stronger winter protection.

“It would protect people now while longer-term reforms bring bills down for good.”

Since 2020, energy firms have already made more than £125bn in profits on their UK operations.

In Scotland, recent polling showed that voters across the political spectrum backed the Windfall Tax on energy profits in its current form.  Frazer Scott, Chief Executive of Energy Action Scotland, commented:

“The current crisis shows that energy companies continue to make excessive profits at the expense of people. People who cannot heat their homes to a safe level and are burdened by £5.5bn of unrepayable domestic energy debt. Until there is reform that puts people at the heart of the energy system it is right for big business to put its fair share back to help those that need it most.”

Uplift Deputy Director Robert Palmer, said:

“Billpayers didn’t ask for this war and are now facing a huge Trump Tax on petrol, mortgages and food, with sky high energy bills looming once the current price cap ends. Yet once again, as we saw in Ukraine, oil and gas companies are profiting from what is a humanitarian crisis.

“The extra billions they stand to make from the crisis should be taxed and used to support people through the economic pain that’s on its way. Ultimately the only way to bring down bills over the long term is to get off our reliance on oil and gas, and invest as fast as we can in renewables.”

Jonathan Bean, spokesperson for Fuel Poverty Action, said:
“Instead of the £300 bill saving the Government promised us, we now face a £300 bill jump from July. The Government failed to fix the market after the 2022 crisis, so we’ve been left vulnerable to price spikes. The Prime Minister needs to get a grip on the obscene profiteering from war, close windfall tax loopholes, and bring down our bills.”

ENDS

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition brings together more than 100 charities, health organisations, housing groups, trade unions and consumer bodies working to end fuel poverty across the UK.

[1] OBR March 2025 ready reckoners (fetched 17 March 2026), applied to OBR March 2026 EFO baseline prices. Prices assumed: $100 barrel for oil and 130p/therm gas. This calculation was made before the additional spike in prices caused by the attacks on Iranian and Qatari gas facilities on 19th March, so the figures could be higher if current prices are sustained. .

[2] Prior to the latest escalation in prices and before the OBR updated its ready reckoners on the 17th of March analysis for Granville Partners, a consultancy firm run by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s ex-chief of staff estimated the total extra tax revenue at £2.7bn. This could now be at the lower end of expectations and may not be directly comparable with the analysis above.

[3] The Coalition’s proposals focus on targeted support for households most exposed to high energy costs, while retaining the ability to expand support more widely if the crisis deepens.

The immediate measures recommended include a new, longer-term, Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for households relying on heating oil, LPG and other off-gas-grid fuels, as well as support for heat network customers who face rising commercial energy prices.

The proposal also recommends preparing a targeted reduction in energy unit rates from July if the Ofgem price cap rises significantly, alongside faster rollout of a national energy debt relief scheme to address record levels of household debt.

For the winter, the Coalition is calling for reforms to existing schemes including further expansion of the Warm Home Discount and strengthening Cold Weather Payments so support reaches vulnerable households earlier.

Ministers are also urged to speed up reform to electricity pricing and prepare a scalable universal support package that could be activated quickly if energy prices spike further.

The Coalition says the proposals are designed to complement longer-term policies such as the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and Clean Power Plan, which aim to reduce energy bills permanently by improving energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Households face a £332 Trump Tax on energy bills from July

The latest projections show that average energy bills will increase to £1,973 from 1 July 2026, representing a 20% price increase compared to the level just before the rise (i.e. taking into account the reduction of bills from 1 April).

It represents a 90% (£900+) increase over pre-energy bills crisis levels (winter 2020/21 benchmark) and a 26% (£400+) increase over the last general election.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:
“This amounts to a £332 Trump Tax on household energy bills as the conflict continues. At the same time, energy industry profits are likely to rise again as households are left exposed to another global oil and gas price shock.

“Government should be ready with targeted support for households from 1 July while planning for more universal measures if the price surges continue. Meanwhile it must also use this moment to speed up home upgrades, electricity pricing reform and the shift to homegrown renewables.

“Households cannot be left to foot the bill for global instability while energy companies and markets benefit from the turmoil.”

Households face a fresh energy bill threat as gas prices hit three-year high

Gas prices have soared to a three-year high and oil prices increased further as the Middle East conflict escalates.

Attacks on energy sites in Iran and Qatar were followed by threats from US President Donald Trump to “massively blow up” a key Iranian gas field.

UK natural gas prices spiked by more than 124% month-on-month and 65% up year-on-year, the highest level since the conflict escalated at the end of February. [1]

While the FTSE100 is trading down 1.9% shares in energy firms have risen, taking share price gains by these firms since the conflict started to close to 10%. [2]

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, commented:

“These gas and oil prices haven’t been seen since the winter of 2022/23 when an Energy Price Guarantee was needed to protect households from the worst excesses of our exposure to global markets. The reality is that households will face a ‘Trump Tax’ on their energy bills as a result of this war and the case for Government action to support households is becoming impossible to ignore.

“We have written to Ministers with proposals to ensure support reaches the households most exposed to high energy costs first, while giving Government the ability to scale up help quickly if the crisis continues.

“That means immediate support for households relying on heating oil, LPG and other off-gas fuels, help for heat network customers facing rising commercial energy prices, and targeted reductions in energy bills from July when the price cap rises. It also means faster action on energy debt, stronger winter support through the Warm Home Discount and reformed Cold Weather Payments, and an overhaul of electricity pricing so households are not left paying more than they should.

“These are practical steps that can protect people now while complementing longer-term plans such as the Warm Homes Plan and moves to renewables, which are essential to bringing bills down for good.”

Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said:

“This will be a major concern to bill payers, many of who are still carrying debt from the last gas crisis when Russia invaded Ukraine. That led to taxpayers having to step in essentially subsidising gas for millions of homes to the tune of tens of billions. And let’s be clear trying to squeeze more gas out of the North Sea has no real impact on the price households pay because its set by international markets and these kind of world events caused by foreign actors like Putin.

“Put simply, if you want to insulate yourself from these kind of price shocks, use less gas. British wind and solar farms lower our dependence on foreign gas, as do net zero technologies like electric heat pumps and this helps with bill stability. British wind power lowered wholesale prices by a third last year. These are permanent solutions, whereas the North Sea is a mature basin running out of oil and gas, quicker drilling means it runs out quicker.”

[1] Trading Economics, 0930 Thursday 19 March.

[2] Bloomberg data on End Fuel Poverty Coalition share price watch list of 15 listed firms involved in the UK energy sector.

Wet weather, rising bills and cold homes are putting lung health at risk

New warnings from Asthma + Lung UK show how wet weather and the threat of higher energy bills are combining to put people with lung conditions at greater risk.

The charity says damp and mould can trigger asthma attacks, chest infections and hospital admissions, while 17% of people with lung conditions say they struggle to keep their home adequately warm.

That warning comes as evidence continues to mount about the health impact of poor housing. Separate figures reported in the Independent suggest that in 2024 there were just under 40,000 NHS hospital admissions where cold homes, damp, mould or poor housing conditions were recorded as contributing factors to serious respiratory and cardiovascular illness.

But there is also clear evidence that home upgrades can improve health. A recent case study in York highlighted how energy efficiency improvements helped an older resident end years of breathing difficulties and financial stress, stay warmer and feel better at home.

A spokesperson for the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said:

“For people with asthma, COPD and other lung conditions, a cold, damp home can be dangerous to their health.

“After one of the wettest winters on record, many households are already dealing with damp and mould. Now the oil and gas price crisis is raising the threat of higher bills, which could leave even more people cutting back on heating or unable to keep their homes dry and safe.

“Ministers need to act on two fronts at once. They must get the Warm Homes Plan moving for the coldest and dampest homes, and make sure emergency bill support is ready if this fossil fuel price crisis deepens. This includes targeting any financial support available at those who have long-term lung problems as one of the priority groups.

“No one should be made ill because they cannot afford to heat their home.”

Dr Andy Whittamore, a GP and clinical lead at Asthma + Lung UK, said:

“Even before events in the Middle East raised the spectre of higher energy bills, we were already concerned about the wet weather increasing damp and mould and affecting people’s health.

“For the seven million people in the UK living with asthma and the three million people living with COPD being exposed to a trigger like mould can bring on a potentially fatal asthma attack, or cause a COPD flare-up requiring hospitalisation.”

Government urged to prepare emergency energy bill support

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has written to ministers urging the Government to prepare an emergency energy support framework to protect households from rising energy bills as global fossil fuel prices remain volatile.

In a new policy proposal sent to the UK Government, the Coalition warns that the current gas and oil price crisis could see millions of households in fuel poverty if bills increase again from July.

While the Ofgem energy price cap is set to fall slightly from April 2026, rising wholesale gas prices mean bills could rise sharply again this summer. Early projections suggest the average annual bill could increase and, as a result, the Coalition estimates that around 13 million households will be left spending more than 10% of their income on energy, with c.5 million spending more than 20%.

Some households are already feeling the impact of rising costs. Off-gas households relying on heating oil have reported refill prices doubling in recent weeks, LPG customers are facing rising prices, while heat network customers could soon face steep increases as energy supply contracts expire.

The Coalition’s proposals focus on targeted support for households most exposed to high energy costs, while retaining the ability to expand support more widely if the crisis deepens.

The immediate measures recommended include a new, longer-term, Alternative Fuel Support Scheme for households relying on heating oil, LPG and other off-gas-grid fuels, as well as support for heat network customers who face rising commercial energy prices.

The proposal also recommends preparing a targeted reduction in energy unit rates from July if the Ofgem price cap rises significantly, alongside faster rollout of a national energy debt relief scheme to address record levels of household debt.

For the winter, the Coalition is calling for reforms to existing schemes including further expansion of the Warm Home Discount and strengthening Cold Weather Payments so support reaches vulnerable households earlier.

Ministers are also urged to speed up reform to electricity pricing and prepare a scalable universal support package that could be activated quickly if energy prices spike further.

The Coalition says the proposals are designed to complement longer-term policies such as the Government’s Warm Homes Plan and Clean Power Plan, which aim to reduce energy bills permanently by improving energy efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

However, campaigners warn that households still need protection from price shocks in the meantime.

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said

“Millions of households are still recovering from the last energy crisis, with record levels of energy debt and many already struggling to afford their bills.

“The risk is that we see another wave of fuel poverty driven by the oil and gas price crisis caused by Trump’s war in the Middle East.

“This is history repeating itself and rather than making snap decisions, the Government should establish an emergency support framework now, so households know what support can be expected.

“Reducing energy price spikes benefits the whole country. It helps limit inflation, reduces pressure on household finances, prevents worsening fuel poverty and cuts the health impacts associated with cold homes.

“This support should be funded fairly. Energy companies and other parts of the energy industry make huge profits during periods of price volatility, so it is only right that windfall taxes and excess profits are used to help protect households from another energy price shock.”

Maria Booker, Head of Policy, Fair By Design, commented:

“The Government must use the next two and a half months to design an emergency support package that is both effective and fair. Support should be carefully targeted towards those who need it most and funded in an equitable way.

“This shock is yet  another reminder of why the Government must accelerate progress on data‑matching capabilities so that support can be better targeted.

“Ultimately, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and transitioning to clean power generated here in the UK, will mean we are not at the mercy of global energy shocks like this in future.”

Uplift Deputy Director Robert Palmer said:

“Everyone in the UK is going to pay the price if this reckless conflict continues via a ‘Trump War Tax’ that could add thousands of pounds to people’s bills.

“We risk seeing higher energy bills, more expensive petrol, pricier mortgages and bigger food bills. It’s good to see some immediate support from the government on heating oil and it’s crucial that the government provides further support if it’s needed on bills.

“The UK must also plan for the long term. What we need is to ramp up the shift to renewable power so we have cheaper energy, secure supply and a cleaner environment. Oil and gas profiteers, who stand to make billions out of the Iran crisis,  should pay their share of any financial help.”

Morgan Vine, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age said:

“It is clear that support is needed for older people in financial hardship who are understandably anxious about what the fuel crisis could mean for them. With over half of older people on a low income already finding it a struggle to keep up with their energy bills, many are already making tough choices, not turning the lights on at night, heating only one room even in the depths of winter, or washing in cold water.

“Older people on low incomes can’t afford to absorb any more costs; they’re already at breaking point. The UK Government must take comprehensive action now to protect everyone on a low income from sky-high energy prices.”

Jonathan Bean, spokesperson for Fuel Poverty Action, said:

“Any emergency support must recognise that electric-only homes face much higher unit prices than oil and gas households due to our rigged energy market.

“The Government must urgently break the link between gas and electricity which allows firms to inflate the price of cheap renewable energy.

“The Prime Minister must also get a grip on the huge profits that already make up £500 of the average energy bill. If the Government was serious about bringing down our bills, they would work with Ofgem to cut profits and pass the savings back to us.”

Susie Elks, Senior Policy Advisor on the UK Power System at E3G commented:

“In spite of this crisis, the government must continue to resolve the challenges which are increasing some of the underlying drivers for bills. They must lower the cost of ‘hidden taxes’ on bills, which add £11bn to households and business energy bills.

“They must solve the energy debt crisis, which is adding £50-£70 to every household’s bill.

“They must find a way for us to modernise our energy networks, which have been chronically underinvested in, whilst managing the costs to households.”

Ian Preston, Director of Development and External Affairs from the Centre for Sustainable Energy commented:

“Another fossil fuel price crisis, when many households still haven’t recovered from the last one, underlines the urgent need to support households to switch to heat pumps powered by homegrown renewable energy generation as quickly as possible. But, in the meantime though, bill payers, especially those reliant on oil or LPG, need bill support to stay warm this coming winter.”

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition brings together more than 100 charities, health organisations, housing groups, trade unions and consumer bodies working to end fuel poverty across the UK.

The full proposal has been shared with ministers and officials and the Coalition has offered to meet with the Government to discuss how the measures could be implemented.

ENDS

The full proposals can be read here.

Fuel poverty calculations are extrapolations using analyst forecasts of average energy bills and based on the data compiled in 2025 https://www.endfuelpoverty.org.uk/fuel-poverty-statistics-show-12-million-households-struggling/