DOZENS of neighbourhoods could be among the worst impacted by the energy crisis when the price cap rises in October, analysis suggests.
Analysis by climate charity Friends of the Earth found that one in five neighbourhoods (18 per cent) in Brighton and Hove are at greatest risk of financial hardship when energy prices rise later this year.
The charity has warned there is “no downplaying” the crisis facing millions of people this winter if bills rise as expected without intervention from the government.
Smart meters and unmetered fuel consumption were analysed to determine areas where energy use is above normal levels, with 30 neighbourhoods in the city with above-average costs and lower than average household income defined as an energy crisis “hotspot”.
Areas most at risk include Hollingbury, Coldean, Bevendean and Falmer, as well as parts of Withdean, Whitehawk and Moulsecoomb.
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty said that the council has taken several steps to help support residents in “desperately hard times”.
He said: “While Conservative ministers have refused to take serious action to alleviate the cost of living crisis, we’ve been rolling up our sleeves to do what we can.
“We’ve undertaken several important pieces of work; the community hub - created to support pandemic hardship - is continuing, helping people access welfare support, food, essentials and bringing down fuel bills.
“We’ve also increased the amount available to help people pay for essential goods like fridges and ovens.
“We’re rolling out an insulation programme for warmer, healthier council houses and have increased the council’s enforcement team so that we can take action on landlords renting cold, leaky homes in the private rented sector.”
He also called for greater action from the government to help those struggling with the cost of their energy bills and said: “Work is ongoing to help residents coming into the winter months - however, there is appallingly still no long-term plan from the government to tackle the horrifying levels of poverty in this country.
“As housing prices, fuel bills and the cost of living have soared, the government needs to act now to avert complete crisis for thousands of households.”
Mike Childs, head of science, policy and research at the Friends of the Earth charity, said that the government must “beef up its package of emergency financial support” and protect the most vulnerable to soaring price rises.
He said: "There’s no downplaying how catastrophic this and following winters will be for millions of people if energy bills rise as high as they’re predicted to, unless the government meaningfully intervenes.
"Instead of woeful and poorly targeted cash handouts, or the promise of tax cuts that won’t help those who need it the most, the government must beef up its package of emergency financial support by channelling money to those least able to pay their energy bills."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “We are investing £6.6 billion in this parliament to improve energy efficiency as part of the government’s Help to Heat programme, which is helping make households across the country cheaper to heat.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here