25% of Welsh homes in fuel poverty
New statistics from the Welsh Government reveal 340,000 households were in fuel poverty in October 2024
New official estimates from the Welsh government reveal 25% of all households in Wales (340,000) were in fuel poverty in October 2024.
These are households unable to keep their home warm at any reasonable cost, needing to spend more than 10% of their income to adequately heat their home.
"Too many are living in cold homes, rationing essentials, and mired in debt"
National Energy Action Head of Wales Ben Saltmarsh says,
"Fuel poverty has deepened dramatically in recent years.
"Too many are living in cold homes, rationing essentials, and mired in debt – with grave physical and mental health consequences.
"Children are growing up in conditions that can damage their life chances for decades.
"Paying over £1,700 a year for a basic utility isn’t normal – and in many parts of Wales it’s even higher, since north Wales faces the highest energy costs in GB and south Wales is not far behind.
"With some of the oldest and least efficient housing in northern Europe, keeping warm at home is simply unaffordable for hundreds of thousands.
Looking ahead to next years Senedd election, Ben Saltmarsh says:
"All political parties in Wales must commit to considerably increasing investment in energy efficiency should they form the next Welsh government.
"We can – and must – make the homes of those most in need warmer, greener, and healthier places to live.’
The Welsh Government says they have invested £35m this financial year to the Warm Homes Nest scheme - the programme to assist people on low incomes living in cold, damp homes with free energy efficiency measures and affordable, low carbon heating solutions.
In response to the statistics, the Welsh Government says: "
"These figures reflect the unprecedented rise in energy costs across the world and are deeply concerning.
“The situation has improved significantly since the peak of the global energy crisis but it remains challenging and we continue to prioritise support for those who need it most.
“We are using every tool available to us to help households cope with their energy bills. – For instance our £35m Warm Homes Nest scheme provides free energy efficiency measures to low-income households, £6.3m since 2022 to support fuel vouchers for prepayment customers, and our Claim What's Yours campaign helping people access benefits they're entitled to.”