One in four 'hardest hit' by energy costs

A quarter of homes in Sunderland are set to be among the worst hit by the energy crisis, new analysis suggests.
Sunderland is energy bill 'hotspot'Sunderland is energy bill 'hotspot'
Sunderland is energy bill 'hotspot'

Analysis by the environmental group Friends of the Earth shows 25% of neighbourhoods in the city are at the greatest risk of financial hardship when the price cap rises in October.

Nationally, nearly 9,000 areas have been classed as "energy crisis hotspots".

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Friends of the Earth also say 5,550 homes in Sunderland require cavity wall insulation and 5,980 need loft insulation.

The charity analysed smart meters and unmetered fuel consumption to determine areas where energy use is above normal levels, above-average costs and lower than average household income.

Experts predict that after the price cap has risen in October, an average household will pay bills of more than £3,600 per year - more than double the £1,400 figure last October.

Energy regulator Ofgem is due to announce the new price cap – which will come into effect at the start of October – on Friday, August 26.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at the charity, said the Government must "beef up its package of emergency financial support" and protect the most vulnerable to soaring price rises.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said it is providing £37bn worth of support to help households during the cost-of-living crisis.

Mr Childs said: The highest priority of all is fixing the UK’s leaky, inefficient housing stock, otherwise cash handouts will be required year on year.

A BEIS spokesperson said: "We are investing £6.6bn to improve energy efficiency, helping make households across the country cheaper to heat."