Cornwall has third highest total of 'Energy Crisis Hotpots' across England & Wales
Friends of the Earth says 150 neighbourhoods across the Duchy are most at risk of financial hardship
Last updated 22nd Aug 2022
Cornwall has been named as one of the places worst hit by soaring energy prices.
Friends of the Earth says the Duchy has 150 'Energy Crisis Hotspots', where families are most at risk of falling into serious financial hardship this winter.
That is the third highest total across England and Wales, behind Birmingham and Bradford.
The charity says that by October, the average bill in those neighbourhoods will have reached £3,289.
It also found around 20,000 homes in the areas need cavity wall insulation while over 32,000 require loft insulation.
FoE are urging the government to commit £15bn to a council-led, street-by-street programme of free insulation, funded by a tougher windfall tax.
What is an Energy Crisis Hotspot?
Energy Crisis Hotspots are neighbourhoods where energy use is high and typical household income is below the national average, according to Friends of the Earth.
It says in many cases, energy use is high because homes are poorly insulated, meaning they require more energy to remain warm.
Analysis has found that these at-risk neighbourhoods are home to a higher proportion of children than other areas, but that people of colour are also twice as likely to live in them, highlighting the disparities that exist across local areas.
The average annual energy bill is currently more than 50% higher than it was six months ago and that is expected to climb higher still, when Ofgem announces the new price cap.
The latest forecasts predict that annual energy costs will exceed £3,500 for the average household come October, rising to £4,200 by January. Experts Cornwall Insights predict that prices will remain high throughout 2023 and even beyond.
Households facing 'catastrophic' winters
Mike Childs, Head of Science, Policy and Research at Friends of the Earth, said: "There's no downplaying how catastrophic this and following winters will be for millions of people if energy bills rise as high as they're predicted to, unless the government meaningfully intervenes.
"Instead of woeful and poorly targeted cash handouts, or the promise of tax cuts that won't help those who need it the most, the government must beef up its package of emergency financial support by channelling money to those least able to pay their energy bills.
"And while vital, this is only a short-term solution. The highest priority of all is fixing the UK's leaky, inefficient housing stock, otherwise cash handouts will be required year on year.
"By rolling out a free programme of street-by-street energy efficiency measures, prioritising the most in-need neighbourhoods, we can help to bring bills down quickly, make homes warmer and slash Earth-warming emissions at the same time".
What needs to happen?
A new report by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) on behalf of Friends of the Earth shows how an emergency energy efficiency scheme for England and Wales could be delivered by local authorities over the coming months, starting with the neighbourhoods most in need, to protect people from soaring bills before this winter and beyond.
It reveals that households could make savings of between £490 and £720 each year on their bills through the rapid roll-out of a council-led, street-by-street programme of insulation and other energy saving measures. These estimates were made before the most recent energy price cap forecasts were given, making the potential savings even higher.
Friends of the Earth is calling on the Conservative leadership candidates to commit to a fast programme of free, council-led street-by-street loft and cavity wall insulation and basic energy efficiency measures.
FoE also wants them to guarantee better emergency financial support, saying: "while a vital lifeline, this can only be a temporary fix.
"The energy crisis will continue to impact lives for years to come unless steps are taken to reduce the amount of energy lost from our heat-leaking homes".