The number of excess winter deaths in Great Britain caused by living in a cold, damp home climbed by about a third last winter after more than 1 million vulnerable households missed out on government energy bill support, MPs have heard.
Fuel poverty campaigners told a parliamentary committee on Wednesday that despite relatively mild weather, the number of excess winter deaths had climbed to 4,706, up from 3,186 a year earlier, as a result of the energy cost crisis.
Simon Francis, a coordinator at the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, added that the number of excess winter deaths was likely to rise again this winter because of higher levels of energy debt while vulnerable households were forced to “hope for mild weather”.
MPs also heard that more than 1 million vulnerable households missed out on the government’s financial support for their energy bills last winter and were forced to rely on “dangerous coping mechanisms” such as going without heating.
Adam Scorer, the chief executive of the fuel poverty group National Energy Action (NEA), said vulnerable households had been forced to turn off their heating, or opt not to wash or eat to cope with the “impossible levels of debt”, which led to “an explosion in the mental health crisis” over the last winter.
NEA added that more than £400m in government funds earmarked to help the most vulnerable pay their energy bills last winter had been left unspent.
The groups appeared before the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero select committee to give evidence on the UK’s preparedness for the coming winter.
Gillian Cooper, the head of energy at Citizens Advice, said the consumer champion had managed almost 130,000 calls for emergency help last winter, which was “up significantly” from the winter before.
“All the forecasts from our data are suggesting that it’s going to get worse this year,” Cooper added.
The consumer groups called on the government to use the £440m underspend to offer extra support to vulnerable households, which are expected to face stubbornly high bills and increasing energy debt this winter.
Last winter, the government made funds available to vulnerable groups through a string of financial support schemes – but they often failed to reach all the intended households, according to NEA.
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The campaign group said about 750,000 households eligible for the government’s £400 winter energy bill discount, offered to all homes, did not receive the payout because they are not billed directly by an energy supplier.
This group – which includes those in care homes, boat communities, the Gypsy and Romany communities and those in households of multiple occupancy – missed out on a total of more than £300m in government support.
About 300,000 homes eligible for the government’s £150 energy bill rebate through the warm home discount scheme – which offers help to households with a low income and an energy inefficient home – missed out on a total of £45m. A further 250,000 households using prepayment meters to buy their energy missed out on a total of £98m in government support vouchers.
NEA told MPs that many of the most vulnerable households did not take up the support on offer because they were less likely to be aware or actively engaged with the government support schemes in place.
