The impact of fuel poverty today is wide reaching across households in the UK as energy bills as of April 2022 have faced huge increase for most. The picture is no different for residents living in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham that is now considered part of the nationwide cost of living crisis.
According to the organisation, “End Fuel Poverty” the definition of fuel poverty is “the condition by which a household is unable to afford to heat their home to an adequate temperature”
Residents of Hammersmith and Fulham have been sharing the concerns and challenges in meeting living costs and the impact both personally and within families. The choice between heating and food has revealed the huge gaps – decrease in income whether from being lower paid or changes in welfare benefits for those facing fuel poverty. Below are some thoughts shared.
- Pre-payment meters: feeling ashamed when purchasing fuel top ups on a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) basis as many are on fuel debt repayment plans that are on higher rates to those paying through the standing orders or direct debit
- Contacting energy suppliers: feeling helpless and disempowered when trying to contact suppliers and not being able to get through. Phone calls are costly especially when calling from a PAYG mobile phone.
- Most reported poor living conditions in properties that are fuel inefficient with problems such as damp, moulds and general poor insulation
- Tariffs: residents reported that tariffs ought to be fairer in that many are not equitable to especially to those that are on pre-payment meters owing to the imposition of higher costs
- Debt repayment: to consider changing the way debt is taken to be more proportionate for those on pre-payment meters with a repayment plan who experience paying more when topping up with less energy that last for the week
The stories kindly shared by residents of Hammersmith and Fulham have suggested that dialogue ought to be continued as this has highlighted the need to involve community more widely to engage the experiences of those organisations supporting residents from the frontline. Sobus plans to do so.
Current support available to residents in the borough include:
- Citizens Advice Bureau: http://cahf.org.uk/
- Crosslight Adviser: https://www.crosslightadvice.org/hammersmith
- London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham: https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/council-tax/help-council-tax/struggling-pay-your-bill
