Only 42 per cent of people in Cumbria say they’re able to pay their fuel bills without difficulty, according to new research by Electricity North West’s Take Charge campaign.

56 per cent of people in the county have not yet taken action to make their homes more energy efficient because they believe it will be too expensive and another 11 per cent of people think renting their property is a barrier to making energy saving changes.

These new figures support UK Government data, which shows that the second highest fuel poverty gap in England can be found in the North West. 

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14.6 per cent of households in the North West are classed as fuel poor, meaning the household’s energy efficiency rating is Band D or below, and their disposable income, after housing and fuel costs, is below the poverty line.

Electricity North West is investing £8 million in the Take Charge service to support people in the North West.