Mime has collaborated with the Open Data Institute (ODI) and Frontier Economics to produce a report and data tool, launched today, that shows the sections of society that are most affected by fuel poverty, as well as looking at the areas of the country where the problem hits the hardest.
The Fuel Poverty and Data Infrastructure report examines the existing data relating to fuel poverty in England. It shows that certain households, such as larger households and those made up of lone parents, are more likely to be in fuel poverty. However, issues with the data infrastructure mean the existing government data is not as useful as it could be. Key datasets, such as the Government’s fuel poverty statistics, lag two years behind and the way fuel poverty is defined means many households who are struggling won’t be included in official figures.
The report is accompanied by the publication of a new fuel poverty risk index, developed by the team here at Mime. This index combines twelve datasets to present a more holistic picture of fuel poverty, taking into account the demand for fuel in a local authority as well as the general ability to pay for this fuel.
