Fuel Poverty in Wales
Fuel Poverty in Wales
Inquiry5
At its meeting on 30 September 2024 the Equality and Social Justice Committee agreed to undertake a follow-up inquiry into fuel poverty and the Warm Homes Programme.
The inquiry follows on from the Committee’s previous work and will explore what fuel poverty means for people in Wales today and what progress has been made in implementing a successor scheme.
The Welsh Government launched the new Warm Homes Programme, on 1 April 2024. Background information about the new programme was included in a Welsh Government policy statement published in March 2023.
Terms of reference
The terms of reference for the inquiry were to explore:
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>>>Whether there is an accurate picture of fuel poverty in Wales today, given that data is based on the 2008 Living in Wales Survey and 2017-18 Wales Housing Conditions Survey;
>>>The potential impact of changes to the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment on fuel poverty in Wales;
>>>The detail of the new Warm Homes Programme, including the energy efficiency measures offered, changes to eligibility criteria, the approach to delivering advice services, and the development of an area based approach;
>>>How changes from the previous programme will impact delivery, particularly in terms of the numbers of households that will be supported;
>>>The extent to which the Warm Homes Programme is helping to address persistent fuel poverty in Wales, and if not, what further action is needed;
>>>The effectiveness of support available to households in or at risk of fuel poverty, in addition to the Warm Homes Programme;
>>>How effective local authorities have been at accessing and utilising ECO Flex funding;
>>>How the Welsh Government is working with the UK Government to address fuel poverty.
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Evidence gathering
The Committee gathered evidence via a targeted consultation and oral
evidence sessions with key stakeholders.
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions took place on the following dates:
The sessions heard from:
Dr Simon Lannon - Cardiff University
Professor Phil Jones - Cardiff University
Keryl Lanfear - Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
David Mark Lewis - Gwynedd Council
Meilyr Tomos - Gwynedd Council
Jonathan Cosson - Warm Wales
Ben Saltmarsh - National Energy Action Cymru
Steffan Evans - The Bevan Foundation
Hannah Peeler - Care & Repair
Mason Steed - Energy Savings Trust
Ross Kirwan - Centrica
Fiona Cameron - Centrica
Rhian Bowen-Davies - Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
Dr Sumina Azam - Public Health Wales
Dr Rebecca Hill - Public Health Wales
Ceri Cryer - Age Cymru
Jane Hutt MS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip, Welsh Government
Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, Welsh Government
Christine Grimshaw - Welsh Government
Carol Driver - Welsh Government
Written evidence
The Committee held targeted call for written evidence. The consultation closed on 7 November 2024. 13 responses were received. To read the responses, or for more information please visit the consultation page.
Report
The Committee laid its report: ‘Turning up the heat before 2160: time to pick up the pace on tackling fuel poverty’ on Monday 7 April 2025.
The Chair, Jenny Rathbone MS, said on publication of the report:
“As energy costs
keep rising, the need to tackle fuel poverty in Wales becomes more urgent.
But frustratingly, this has not been reflected in the
Welsh Government’s efforts, leaving a devastating impact on those who can least
afford it. Instead we’ve seen a pattern of delays and missed deadlines.
It is hard to disagree with the experts: the level of investment in the Warm Homes
Programme is nowhere near what is required to match the scale of the challenge
of ending fuel poverty”
Welsh Government response
The Welsh Government laid its response on 10 September 2025.
Plenary
The report and the Welsh Government response were debated in Plenary on 17 September 2025.
Business type: Committee Inquiry
Reason considered: Senedd Business;
First published: 04/10/2024
Consultations
- Fuel Poverty in Wales (completed)