1 in 5 families can't afford heating, new survey reveals
Nearly one in five UK households with children have had to endure cold because they can't afford the bills, a new YouGov poll for Save the Children UK has revealed.
Tuesday 5 February 2008
The poll revealed 19% of adults with children aged 17 or under have suffered from cold homes because of the cost of energy. 15% of households have cut back on food, and the same proportion has had to cut back on essential clothing in order to pay fuel bills.
The survey found that 15% of households have cut back on food, and the same proportion has had to cut back on essential clothing in order to pay fuel bills.
The problem is severe among the least well-off - 44% of families living on incomes of less than £15,000 per year reported suffering from cold because of high energy prices.
One reason the UK's poorest families are hit hardest is because many rely on prepayment meters to heat their homes - which cost significantly more than paying fuel bills by Direct Debit.
"Fuel poverty is an outrage, particularly for children," said Phillipa Hunt, UK Poverty Spokesperson at Save the Children. "It means that they are experiencing the effects of cold on a daily basis. Children find it more difficult to do their homework in a cold home, and are more likely to suffer ill health.
"The government is well behind schedule in its promise of halving child poverty by 2010 and ending it by 2020," she said. "To achieve the 2010 target the government needs to invest £4 billion to help the poorest families. As part of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, we are calling on the government to use this Budget to invest a significant proportion of this money.
"Save the Children is also campaigning for seasonal grants in winter and in the summer, of £100 per child for the poorest families," she continued. "This would help relieve the increased costs at these expensive times of year."
Pre-pay vs. Direct Debit
Research also reveals a major reason why so many households with the lowest incomes are unable to heat their homes properly - the poorest pay more for energy.
In comparison with the cost of paying for electricity and gas with a pre-payment meter, and paying for it by online Direct Debit, it was found that on average pre-pay meters are 26% more expensive: an extra £215 every year.
The worst offender is British Gas. For electricity it charges 58% more for pre-pay compared with online Direct Debit - £159 more on average per year. For gas, pre-pay customers are charged 47% more compared with their online Direct Debit customers - £228 more every year for the average customer.
"We know that less well-off families are much more likely to use pre-pay meters, because it gives them the flexibility to plan a weekly budget," said Phillipa Hunt. "So by charging more for using pre-pay meters, energy companies are in fact penalising those families and children who are least able to pay."
"We want energy companies to bring their pre-pay charges in line with the cost of online Direct Debit.
"The government also needs to play its part. It should use the new Energy Bill to enforce minimum standards of social tariffs, so that people on low incomes are paying as little as possible for their energy," Ms Hunt added.
-ENDS-
For more information please contact the Save the Children Media Office on 020 7012 6841
Notes to Editors
- Save the Children is the world's independent children's charity. We're outraged that millions of children are still denied proper healthcare, food, education and protection. We're working flat out to get every child their rights and we're determined to make further, faster changes. How many? How fast? It's up to you.
- As part of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, Save the Children is calling for a £4 billion investment for the Government to meet its target of halving child poverty by 2010 http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/
- Save the Children is calling for Seasonal Grants of £100 per child for the poorest families, in winter and summer, and an additional £100 per family in winter to help with the extra cost of heating.
- Figures comparing prices of different payment methods, and comparing prices of different energy providers, are from Energy Watch http://www.energywatch.org.uk/ based on prices on 1st January 2008.
- All other figures are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,029 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11th - 14th January 2008. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
- Medium user means average annual gas consumption of 20,500 kWH and average annual electricity consumption of 3,300 kWH. Prices include V.A.T. Source: Energy Watch price comparison factsheets.
- 25% of the fuel poor in England were prepayment customers in 2004 compared with just under 6% of all households. Source: Fuel Poverty Advisory Group - Response to Ofgem metering pice control review consultation, 2006.
Further results from the YouGov poll:
Q. Have you and/ or your children ever experienced cold in your home because you/ the bill payer could not afford to heat it sufficiently? (All UK adults with children under 17)
One in five households with children under 17 (19%) have experienced cold in their homes because they can’t afford to pay the bill to heat it sufficiently.
This rises to nearly half (44%) of those families on incomes below £15,000 a year 53% of those respondents with children 17 or under who use a pre-payment meter for both gas and electricity said they had experienced cold in their homes.
By Government region: Results suggest 45% of respondents in Northern Ireland said they had experienced cold in their homes, followed by 32% in Wales, 32% in West Midlands, 23% in North West, London at 22%. Others were below 20%. Scotland was 7% (some base sizes below 50).
Q. Which, if any, of the following have you ever had to cut back on due to the cost of heating your home? (All UK adults)
15% of all adults have had to cut back on 'food expenditure' because of energy costs. The same proportion of people has had to cut back on 'essential clothing' and 21% have cut back on 'other expenses'.
Of those households with children under 17 years old, 22% had cut back on 'other expenses', 19% had cut back on 'paying other bills', 17% on 'essential clothing' and 16% on 'food expenditure'.
38% of those using a pre-payment meter for gas and electric have had to cut back on 'essential clothing' (more than twice the proportion for all households). 35% of the same group have had to cut back on food expenditure (again, more than twice proportion of all adults). 29% have cut back on 'paying other bills'.
Of those households earning under £15,000, over one quarter of have had to cut back on essential food expenditure. The same proportion have cut back on essential clothing. One in five have cut back on 'paying other bills'.
By Government region: Wales worst affected; 26% reported cutting back on 'other expenses', 25% 'food' and 23% 'clothing'. The other highest incidents were in Northern Ireland, where 28% reported cutting back on 'other expenses', followed by 24% of those in Scotland. In London, 19% had cut back on 'other expenses' and 12% on 'food'.
Q. Gas and electricity companies often charge those who use prepayment meters more than those who pay by direct debit. Which one of the following best describes how you feel about this? Outraged / Worried / Don’t Care / Fine / Surprised / None / Don't Know (All UK adults)
50% of all adults are either outraged or worried that electricity companies charge more for prepayment meters than direct debit. This rises to almost 70 per cent if you include 'surprised' category.
45% of adults with child under 17 are outraged, and 11% worried. Meaning more than half of parents sampled are either outrage or worried.
50% of households earning less than £15,000 a year are outraged.
56% of those using prepayment meters for both gas and electric are outraged, 11% worried and 12% surprised.
By Government region: Highest level or outrage in Northern Ireland (53%), followed by South West (46%), North West (44%), Scotland (43%), London (38%).
