Thousands of households in Carlisle were in fuel poverty before the national energy crisis, new figures reveal. 

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy figures reveal that 7,372 households in Carlisle were in fuel poverty in 2020 – the most recent official figures.

This is down from 7,502 the year prior, however, The End Fuel Poverty Coalition has warned many more will struggle to afford rocketing bills this year after the energy price cap rose in April and the war in Ukraine led to an increase in wholesale oil prices.

The figures have accounted for by people living in a property with an energy efficiency rating of band D or below and, after heating their home, had a residual income below the official poverty line - making up for 14.3 per cent of the city's population. 

Across England, more than 3 million households (13.2%) were in fuel poverty in 2020, the lowest proportion since records began in 2010. 

That being said however, the figure does not take into account the 54 per cent energy price cap increase in April, averaging around each household to spend an extra £700 per year on electricity bills. 

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Simon Francis, from the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said the 2020 figures show "just how significant the Government's failure to tackle fuel poverty has been" and estimated more than 6 million households in England have now been thrust into fuel poverty.

"The impact of measures taken pre-pandemic has barely shifted the dial – and we know very little has been done since 2020 to change the picture.

"We need urgent help for households in fuel poverty now combined with a long-term plan to improve energy efficiency of our homes and a sustainable, renewable-led, energy mix," he said. 

A Government spokesperson said it is continuing to make "significant progress on tackling fuel poverty."

They added: "We are investing over £6.6 billion this parliament and working directly with local authorities to further boost energy efficiency in homes across the UK, which remains the best long-term method to keep household energy costs down".

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