The North East has the lowest level of fuel poverty in England apart from the South East. The perhaps surprising news is probably due to the fact that homes in the region are comparatively small and energy efficient.
Statistics on fuel poverty have been issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) at a time when energy costs are at the forefront of public debate due to their central tole in the cost-of-living crisis.
The figures, which are official statistics accredited at national level and in development at sub-regional level, show that 9.3% of households in the North East are living in fuel poverty, the lowest apart from the South East with 8.2%. The highest level is the West Midlands with 12.1% followed by Yorkshire & Humber region with 11.3%. The national average is 9.9%.
The North East also has the smallest range of fuel poverty levels between local authorities. It is highest in County Durham (10%) and lowest in Stockton (7.8%).
The statistics just released by the DESNZ are from 2024. They are calculated using the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric established in 2021. A household is considered fuel poor if both:
- it is living in a property with an energy efficiency rating in band D,E,F or G according to the most up-to-date methodology; and
- its disposable income after housing costs and energy needs would be below the poverty line, which is less than 60% of the national median.
Energy efficiency
The fuel poverty rate decreased between 2023 and 2024 for all regions except London. The overall fuel poverty levels decreasing corresponds to the higher energy efficiency (from an increased proportion of households achieving A-C energy efficiency) and lower fuel costs, according to the DESNZ.
The DESNZ said: “The government is interested in the amount of energy people need to consume to have a warm, well-lit home, with hot water for everyday use, and the running of appliances. Therefore, fuel poverty is measured based on required energy bills rather than actual spending. This ensures that those households who have low energy bills simply because they actively limit their use of energy at home, for example, by not heating their home are not overlooked.”
The North East had median incomes after housing costs below the national median of £30,025 but smaller homes with a median floor area of 80m2 compared with the national figure of 84m2 and higher fuel poverty energy efficiency rating (FPEER) of 71 compared with the national median of 70.
