Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has today hosted and spoken at the launch of a new ‘Off-Gas Advice Pack’ for advisors, AMs, MPs and councillors working with fuel poor households in rural Wales.
The bilingual advice pack launched by National Energy Action (NEA) Cymru, in partnership with Calor, focuses on the issues and solutions for households without access to mains gas who are struggling with their energy bills.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Isherwood said:
“Fuel poverty affects nearly 1 in 4 Welsh households, but those living in rural areas are twice as likely to be in fuel poverty as those in urban areas, caused by a combination of homes being more difficult and expensive to insulate, wages being lower and the cost of off-gas fuels being much higher than mains gas.
“The pack includes information on reducing heat loss in homes, heating and hot water systems, renewable and new technologies, grants and advice and issues around buying unmetered fuels.
“During 2010-13, Calor supported NEA Cymru to deliver a 3 year Energy Advisorship project designed to help fuel poor households in rural, off gas communities in Wales to reduce their energy consumption through a community led approach, and to develop a policy report sharing the findings of the project.
“As Chair of the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty throughout the last two Assembly terms, I was privileged to speak at the Project’s Launch, to Sponsor the January 2012 report launch of the Project’s Year 2 findings, and to sponsor the NEA Cymru and Calor Reception – Assisting Fuel Poor Communities in Rural Wales - in June 2013, which showcased the findings of the 3 year Energy Advisorship Programme.
“As part of the programme, a Guide was produced to give information and advice to households off the mains gas network. The Advice Pack being launched today is an update of this guide, giving practical advice on saving energy and reducing fuel costs for homes off the mains gas grid, and providing a useful resource for officers working with households struggling with fuel poverty in off mains gas network areas.”
Mr Isherwood also spoke of the need for a new Fuel Poverty Strategy in Wales.
He said: “There is no realistic prospect of achieving the 2018 target of eradicating fuel poverty in Wales – and, as Age Cymru state, “many of the mechanisms and measures contained within the Welsh Government’s 2010 Fuel Poverty Strategy are out of date or no longer applicable”-
adding “the time is right for the Welsh Government to refresh its Fuel Poverty Strategy, with a clear programme and time scales, credible evidence base and ambitious new fuel poverty target rooted in delivery rather than being a hostage to energy price movements”.
“Working with Fuel Poverty Coalition Members, Fuel Poverty must be placed at the heart of action to tackle poverty, with strong emphasis on all sectors taking responsibility together.
We must embrace co-productive preventative services – and I therefore commend NEA Cymru and Calor for their new ‘Off -Gas Advice Pack’, which we are here to launch today.”
ENDS