Cold snap highlights fuel poverty crisis ahead of Energy Price Cap update

Temperatures are set to drop sharply as Arctic air moves into the UK this week.

*A Cold Weather Alert has issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) with health services preparing for increased risks to vulnerable populations.

The Met Office has also issued a snow and ice warning for Monday into Tuesday, which could impact Flintshire.

This cold spell comes as millions of low-income and vulnerable households already face difficult decisions about heating their homes.

The National Energy Action (NEA) charity warns that many are rationing heating to dangerous levels or falling into debt to stay warm.

Energy Price Cap Announcement Looms

The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing energy cost crisis.

Ofgem is set to announce its updated energy price cap on Friday, 22 November, which will take effect from January.

The current cap is £1,717 per year for a typical household.

However, NEA estimates this leaves around six million UK households in fuel poverty.

Adding to the uncertainty, energy consultancy Cornwall Insight is expected to release its final forecast for the next price cap period on Monday.

Dire Warnings 

Peter Smith, Director of Policy and Advocacy at National Energy Action, expressed grave concerns:

“With energy bills rising since October and far less support available nationally this winter, millions of people are already rationing their energy use to dangerous levels or getting deeper into debt trying to keep warm. Sadly, even this brief cold spell will be a threat to people’s health and worse and will create further extreme hardship for millions of households.”

Mr Smith added that the combination of increased wholesale energy prices and falling temperatures would leave no relief for vulnerable households this winter.

Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

On Wednesday, 27 November, the NEA will mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (FPAD) to highlight the struggles faced by millions of UK households.

The campaign will share resources and stories across LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram using the hashtag #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay.

More information about Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and how to get involved can be found on the NEA’s website.

*Despite North Wales being included in the Met Office weather warning, UKHSA alerts have never applied to Wales, oddly.