*THREAD*

A few charts that tell a story about fuel poverty in England/GB.

1) Fuel poverty has stubbornly held at between 10-12% of English households. Peaks and troughs but some indication it's fallen slightly.

1/
2) BUT the number of fuel poor homes in properties EPC band D or above has grown significantly. From 33% in 2010 to 69% in 2018.

Trend is towards living in more energy efficient homes, although Band D leaves much to retrofit. 2/
3) Average domestic elec and gas consumption both fell by 13% between 2010-2018.

So on average we're using less energy in our homes each year. 3/

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/826725/2019_Consumption_tables_2.xlsx
4) However, comparing prices in 2019 with prices 10 years prior, real prices for domestic fuels overall increased by 17%.

So we're using less BUT we're paying more for each unit of energy consumed.

Growing wholesale cost helped ⬆️dual-fuel bills over past couple of years. 4/
5) People's weekly pay has remained stubbornly flat.

Gradual recovery since 2014 but in May 2020 regular pay is back at the same level as it was in March 2019, largely due to COVID.

As energy has become more £, our wages have struggled to keep pace. 5/

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/averageweeklyearningsingreatbritain/july2020
6) Where COVID takes us is guess work but I suspect:

A) Domestic energy consumption grow with WFH;
B) Real wages depressed with growing unemployment;
C) Home efficiency could improve with scaling up of state support (e.g. Greener Homes). 6/
7) Big question as ever is energy costs.

Oil price collapse, renewables cost reduction, utilities competing over a customer base with growing domestic demand AND compressed wages due to job losses may see market forces push prices down.

END/
Postnote reflection on future.

Big concerns that FP will grow in current jobs & WFH trend but largely dependent on how energy prices react to global economic downturn.

Govt support for energy efficiency no brainer - can help drive down bills and create jobs to service bills.
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