Assembly Member Mike Hedges Am Supports Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Assembly Member Mike Hedges Am Supports Fuel Poverty Awareness Day

Local Assembly Member for Swansea East, Mike Hedges AM, has shown their support for Fuel Poverty Awareness Day which takes place on Friday 23rd February. The national day highlights the problems faced by those struggling to keep warm in their homes, and also the excellent work being undertaken to tackle the issue.


One in four households in Wales are living in fuel poverty. That’s nearly 300,000 households that cannot afford to keep warm, or who are living in crippling debt to their energy supplier. Rising energy prices, poor energy efficiency, stagnant wages, and benefit cuts are leaving many having to make the difficult choice between eating and heating their home. Fuel poverty is a catalyst for many economic, social and health problems, and can even cause death. The World Health Organisations estimates that 30% of winter deaths are caused by cold housing.


Assembly Member Mike Hedges AM said:
"No one in Wales or Swansea should be living in a cold home. With the cost of living increasing and energy prices rising, more needs to be done to help the most vulnerable in society. I hope that by supporting Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and highlighting these issues, we can work towards eradicating fuel poverty for good in Wales."


The Welsh Assembly published its Fuel Poverty Strategy in 2010 with the aim of eradicating the problem by 2018. With 23% of people still living in fuel poverty in Wales, it is unlikely that this target is going to be met. National Energy Action (NEA) Cymru is calling for a revised strategy in order to adequately address the issue.


Carole Morgan-Jones, Director of NEA Cymru said:
"We are calling on the Welsh Government to address the problem of fuel poverty and fuel debt by recognising that the 2018 target will not be met. We welcome the investment the Welsh Government is making to improve the energy efficiency of up to 25,000 homes in Wales over the next 4 years.  But whilst we know that energy inefficiency is a contributing factor to fuel poverty, this initiative alone will not solve the problem.  We also need a new strategy outlining a much more joined-up approach by Welsh Government, local authorities, housing associations, advice and health services, as well as other public and voluntary organisations in society."


Fuel Poverty Awareness Day marks the end of National Energy Action's Warm Homes Campaign. Across the country organisations will be supporting the day by holding events, issuing messages of support, and highlighting the issue on social media. To show your support, use the #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay hash tag. For advice on keeping safe and warm in your home, go to www.nea.org.uk/advice

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