Contact/Cyswllt:  Sian Cliff
02920 898342 / sian.cliff@wales.gov.uk

Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates today adds fire to his campaign on fuel poverty as he meets local constituents to see how they are coping in the winter weather, amid fears that energy prices could increase later this year.

The AM’s visit is part of the Warm Homes Campaign, the annual winter campaign organised by energy efficiency charity National Energy Action (NEA) and sponsored by leading green support services sector company eaga, who manage the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. The campaign aims to cut the number of excess winter deaths and reduce cold-related illnesses by raising awareness of the help available to people who cannot afford to heat their homes in winter.

Mick Bates joins Welsh Assembly Members and MPs in England and Wales who are supporting the Warm Homes Campaign by visiting constituents to learn first hand how energy efficiency measures can provide affordable warmth this winter.

Amanda Hinds, 39, heard about the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme and contacted Scheme Manager, eaga, for advice. Ms Hinds received loft insulation, a replacement gas boiler and draught-proofing through the scheme. Now the whole house is a much warmer and more comfortable place to be and Ms Hinds’ fuel bills have benefited too.

Mick Bates, AM for Montgomeryshire, said: “I am particularly pleased to be supporting the Warm Homes Campaign. Fuel poverty is a serious issue. It is vital to help people make their homes more energy efficient. A more energy efficient house is good news for your fuel bill. In this day and age, no one should have to spend the winter without affordable heat for their home. I want to see an end to fuel poverty in Montgomeryshire and across the rest of the UK.”

The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has a target to entirely eradicate fuel poverty in Wales by 2018 (with an interim target of eradicating fuel poverty among vulnerable groups by 2010).

However, in 2004 134,000 households were estimated to be fuel poor in Wales, which equates to around 11% of all households. In 2006 the number of fuel poor households had increased again to between 240,000 and 250,000 households, approximately 20%. This means that between 2004-2006 fuel poverty in Wales has nearly doubled.

Based on recent figures for excess winter deaths and projections from the Met Office of a colder winter, experts anticipate 30 deaths linked to the cold this winter in Montgomeryshire.

Nuria Zolle, NEA Director Wales, said: “For millions of families and individuals, winter brings poor health, isolation, debt and worry. We believe that this is unacceptable. The Warm Homes Campaign aims to highlight the effects of fuel poverty and to offer positive and practical solutions to the problem.

“During the month of campaign activity we will be urging Government to recognise the effects escalating energy costs have had on fuel-poor households and provide extra resources to help lift people out of fuel poverty and protect them from any future increases in energy prices.”

Ashley Guise, Divisional Managing Director for eaga, said: “eaga are delighted that over 80, 000 homes in Wales have now benefited from a grant to make their home warmer and healthier this winter.

“With winter deaths and poor health still being caused simply because people are living in cold and damp homes this is an extremely important campaign and eaga is only too happy to lend its support. Making homes warmer, dryer and healthier changes lives for the better and for the long term.”


End / Diwedd


Notes:

1. NEA and Energy Action Scotland are the national charities that tackle the heating and insulation problems of low-income households through improved energy efficiency. Fuel poverty is defined as spending more than 10% of household income on fuel costs. The Warm Homes Campaign is NEA and Energy Action Scotland's annual campaign targeted at the public and the country's decision makers to raise awareness of fuel poverty and the benefits of improved energy efficiency.

1. As part of the Warm Homes Campaign, NEA organises activities for Members of Parliament throughout England and Assembly Members in Wales. In Scotland, NEA works with Energy Action Scotland, which is co-ordinating visits for Members of the Scottish Parliament and Scottish MPs. Between Friday 23 November and Monday 3 December 2007 a range of seminars, events and activities, arranged by NEA and its member organisations, will involve people on low incomes, energy companies, local authorities and voluntary sector and consumer organisations.

2. eaga is the UK’s largest residential energy efficiency provider. The company is a leader in the provision of innovative and sustainable services, products and solutions that address the environmental, social and energy efficiency objectives of Government and the private sector both nationally and internationally.

3. Working in partnership with central and local government eaga is positioned at the heart of policy-making and front-end delivery of social and environmental improvement programmes. eaga operates across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, India and Canada employing over 3,500 people.

4. eaga was established in Newcastle in 1990 to lead government funded efforts to improve the living conditions of vulnerable people living in cold, damp and energy inefficient homes across England. Since its inception, eaga has made a positive difference to over 5 million disadvantaged households across the UK, by installing energy efficiency measures.

5. The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) is the primary source of grants for energy efficiency improvements for households on low incomes in Wales. HEES offers the prospect of lower bills and increased warmth for the elderly, people with disabilities, lone-parent families and other vulnerable households. To date the scheme has assisted over 80,000 homes in Wales. This scheme only covers owner-occupiers and private sector tenants.

6. Excess winter deaths are defined by the Office for National Statistics as the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding autumn (August to November) and the following summer (April to July).

For a Warm Homes Campaign press pack, please click on: http://www.nea.org.uk/downloads/warmhomesweek/Press_Pack_2007_(final_Oct_07).pdf