ima conference. marie spiers combating fuel poverty
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
WELCOME
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Combating Fuel Poverty
Marie SpiersPlymouth Citizens Advice Bureau
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Content of session
1. What is Fuel Poverty?
2. Fuel debt & disconnection
3. Financial Assistance
4. Energy efficiency
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
What is Fuel Poverty?
Fuel poverty is defined as needing to spend
more than 10% of household income on
energy in order to achieve a healthily warm
home
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
What is a healthy environment?
18-24C in the main living area (with a minimum of 21C for vulnerable groups)
18C for all other occupied rooms
16C for unoccupied rooms
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Fuel Poverty by householdFuel Poverty by household composition, 2008
00.5
11.5
22.5
33.5
44.5
Cp
le, n
o
de
p(s
),
un
de
r 6
0
Cp
le, n
o
de
p(s
), 6
0
& o
ve
r
Cp
le w
ith
de
p(s
)
Lo
ne
pa
ren
t
with
de
p(s
)
Oth
er
mu
ilt-
pe
rso
n
ho
use
ho
lds
1 p
ers
on
un
de
r 6
0
1 p
ers
on
60
or
ove
r
ho
us
eh
old
s (
millio
ns
)
Not Fuel Poor
Fuel Poor
Source: National Energy Action
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Causes of Fuel Poverty
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Impact of Fuel Poverty
Households that are living in, or at risk of
fuel poverty, risk mental and physical ill
health as a result of cold, damp living
conditions
Source: Consumer Focus
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Impact of FP - self disconnection
Of the 8.8 million pre-payment meter
customers in Great Britain, up to 1.4
million of these disconnect themselves
from their supply at least once a year
Source: Consumer Focus
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Impact of FP - vulnerable clients
Of the four million households currently
living in fuel poverty in the UK, up to
3 million are classed as ‘vulnerable’
Source: Consumer Focus
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Help for vulnerable clients
Priority Services Register (PSR)
Eligibility: pensionable age, or disability, or chronic illness
Easy to set up
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Priority Services Register
Password protection scheme
Moving prepayment meters
Meter readingBill nominee
scheme
Special help if a gas supply is interrupted
Gas safety check
Advance notice if an electricity
supply has to be interrupted
Services for consumers with visual or hearing
impairments
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Dealing with fuel debt
Contact the supplier
Pay current consumption
Agree best method of payment
Ability to pay/realistic offer
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Disconnection
Can it be prevented?
No vulnerable clients disconnected
Prepayment meter installed as alternative
Disconnection fact sheets available
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Financial assistance
Social tariffs
Warm Home Discount
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Financial assistance – social tariffs
Cheapest/discounted tariff
Different qualifying criteria for each supplier
Updates are available on the Consumer Focus website www.consumerfocus.org.uk
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Financial assistance – WHDYear Who’s eligible Annual
DiscountNumber of customers helped
2011/2012 Households in receipt of guarantee element of Pension Credit
£120 807,000
2012/2013 PC Guarantee and over 80’s and in receipt of savings element of pension credit
£130 1,097,000
2013/2014 PC guarantee and over 75’s and in receipt of guarantee and savings element of pension credit
£135 1,179,000
2014/2015 All households in receipt of guarantee and savings element of pension credit
£140 1,355,000
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Financial assistance - WHD Warm Home Discount
Core group
Broader group
Legacy spend
Industry initatives
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Financial assistance – Trust Funds
Online application
Financial statement
Client circumstances
http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/get-advice/energy/help-finder
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Schemes to combat fuel poverty Reopened from 14th April 11 New qualifying criteria
Receive means-tested benefit Vulnerable:
Over 60 or with child under 5 Some form of disability
AND occupy private sector house with an energy efficiency rating of SAP 55 or below
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Schemes to combat fuel poverty Feed in Tariffs
Community Energy Saving Programme
Home Heat Helpline: 0800 33 66 99
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Energy efficiency - InsulationInsulated and uninsulated Homes
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Loft Walls Floor Doors Windows
Pe
rce
nta
ge
Of
He
at
los
t
Uninsulated
Insulated
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Energy efficiency – Insulation
Home will be warmer in winter Make savings on heating bills May reduce noise from outside and increase
resistance to fire It’s very cost effective
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
End to estimated bills
Accurate real-time information on
energy use in the home
Two-way communication
New tariffs will be available that
measure consumption
over time periodsCapability to
sell energy back to the
supplier
Energy Efficiency – smart meters
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Energy Efficiency - energy saving tips
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Energy Efficiency – energy savings tips
Loft and cavity wall insulation
Turn off the lights
Use energy saving light
bulbs
Take a shower instead of a
bath
Don’t leave appliances on
standby
Turn thermostat down
Tuck curtains behind the radiators
Only use the amount of water
needed in the kettle
Monitor gas and electricity
consumption
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Energy Efficiency – energy savings tips
Turn radiators down lower in
unoccupied rooms
Try to do a full load of washing
Draught proof windows/
doors
Only charge mobile phones
for recommended
time
Don’t leave fridge/freezer
doors open
Defrost fridge/freezer
regularly
Insulate the water tank by using a jacket
Use a toaster rather than a grill
to make toast
Use correct size pan on the hob &
use a lid
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Some facts…Over half of the people who are living in fuel poverty are over the age of 60
Over 34,000 extra deaths occur during winter in the UK
An average household would save £230 per annum if they had loft and cavity wall insulation
The average fuel bill is £1300 per annum
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Combating fuel poverty
Support for vulnerable clients Deal with debt & prevent disconnection The right payment method Financial assistance & fuel poverty schemes Energy saving to save money
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Any questions or information to share?
IMA - assuring quality in the money advice profession
Free training/information packs available:
Marie [email protected]: 01752 676090M: 07792 255806