The unique challenges of those facing rural fuel poverty

A blog by Sandy Ruthven MBE, CEO of Severn Wye Energy.

Fuel poverty has been talked about for several years now – we all, unfortunately, know what it is even if we are lucky enough not to struggle with it.  Three years on from the energy crisis people are still struggling to heat their homes in winter and are forced to chose between their health and staying warm. We see this every day in our Severn Wye advice lines and advocacy services.

Rural fuel poverty is different. Whilst people struggle in the same way as those in urban areas, rural fuel poverty has some different characteristics.  At Severn Wye we work across some of the most isolated parts of the UK from North and Mid Wales to the rural Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

27% of homes in Wales are off the gas grid.  They rely on oil, or solid fuels like coal or wood.  Not only are they less efficient, but they are more expensive, with bills often come irregularly and in large amounts. Filling an oil tank or receiving a delivery of coal or wood can cost close to £1000 – a sum that is difficult to save over the summer when you are already struggling to make ends meet.

The quality of the housing stock is worse in rural areas too.  In Wales 75% have an EPC of D or below. Far above the national average of 55%. They are often hard to insulate, with stone walls or listed features. This condemns those in rural areas to long term high heating costs.

Finally, rural homes are more isolated. At Severn Wye, we can visit 4 or 5 homes in a day in urban areas, offering advice and support to reduce bills and spread costs. In rural North Wales we are lucky to make 2 visits in a day. These visits are vital to give people the advice and support they need that is specific to their homes and lives rather than generic, over the phone advice.

It’s tough, but so are those who live in rural areas. Communities are often strong; people care for each other and help where they can. Our experience is that strong communities can overcome the challenges they face, and they make sure those who are struggling can access the help they need. But it takes long term investment in those communities and a broad network able to help with housing, mental health, jobs, access to benefits as well as support paying energy bills as people struggling with fuel poverty are often struggling with other things too. Local agencies are at the heart of these networks. Whether they offer a quick fix by visiting a household to offer energy advice, or whether they are embedded in the community for years offering regular help, they are vital in giving householders and communities the information and access to resources they need.  It is not enough simply to have a phone number to call or a website to visit. Locally based, well respected agencies bring connections – built over years of collaboration, understanding and trust that means people get all the support they need to bring them out of fuel poverty.

These agencies need long term, core funding. Project by project funding over a year or two is helpful but when organisations lurch from one fund to the next then links are broken, staff leave, and trust must be rebuilt each time. Communities take years to build and the organisations that support them need to walk the journey with them, if they are to have a true impact on those rural households that are struggling to keep warm in winter.

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