Dickson Encourages Those Affected by Fuel Poverty to Make Use of NEA’s Fuel Poverty Action Guide

East Antrim Alliance MLA, Stewart Dickson, has echoed the words of National Energy Action (NEA) that this winter, Northern Ireland will experience the ‘perfect storm’ of higher energy prices, reduced incomes, and leaky, inefficient housing putting many households at risk of fuel poverty.

Mr Dickson said: “Families can be hit with fuel poverty when issues of lower incomes, high energy prices, and poor heating and insulation, coalesce in the colder months. Indeed, 22% of households in Northern Ireland are experiencing fuel poverty – and this is widely considered to be a low estimate.

“Fuel poverty naturally hits vulnerable households the hardest, with older people, young and single-parent families, adults with disabilities, and the long-term sick, particularly affected. Fuel poverty then has a knock-on effect on those individual’s physical and mental health.

“If you, or someone you know, is struggling with fuel poverty, I would implore you to check out the NEA’s fuel poverty action guide for helpful expert advice”.

The Fuel Poverty Action Guide can be found here: www.nea.org.uk/publications/fuel-poverty-action-guide-edition-3.