Customer Services
Affordable Warmth
Households are in fuel poverty when they cannot heat their home to an acceptable standard at a reasonable cost. If a household spends more than 10% of their income on their energy bills, they are said to be in fuel poverty.
Fuel poverty has three contributing factors:
- Inadequate insulation and inefficient heating systems;
- High energy prices; and
- Low household income.
For people living in fuel poverty, cold and damp homes make health conditions such as asthma and heart problems worse.
The number of households in fuel poverty is rising. In the UK approximately 4 million households (16%) are in fuel poverty - this has doubled since 2004. This increase is mainly due to energy price rises.
What is Yorkshire Housing doing to minimise Fuel Poverty?
- Obtained £1 million grant funding to install loft and cavity wall insulation and double glazing;
- Replacing older, less efficient boilers with A-rated boilers.
- Draft proofing older homes, including replacing older doors with better insulated doors.
- Trialling the use of heat pumps and solar hot water in rural areas off the gas network.
- Fitting energy efficient lightbulbs in empty properties.
- All new build homes meet strict energy efficient guidelines.
- Handed out 9000 energy saving lightbulbs to customers in 2008 and 2009.
- Training staff to provide information to customers about saving money on their energy bills.
- Written energy advice sheets for customers.
We welcome your views
We are currently writing a fuel poverty strategy. If you have any ideas of ways that we could help customers in fuel poverty, please contact Helen Amoako
Planned Works
Customer Service Standards
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