Germany's Fuel Poverty Crisis: 13.4% Struggle to Pay Bills, 2030 Target at Risk
In Germany, only 52.8% of low-income households reside in homes meeting the minimum energy efficiency rating of Band C. The fuel poverty gap is projected to reach £443 in 2023, with 13.4% of households struggling to pay energy bills in 2022. Despite efforts, the government is falling short of its 2030 fuel poverty target.
The German government, through its climate and energy policies, aims to improve energy efficiency in housing. The goal is for as many homes as possible to achieve at least energy efficiency category C by 2030. However, progress has been slow and varied across regions. Some districts have up to 49% of properties meeting energy classes A+ to D, while others lag below 20%.
Ofgem recently announced a new energy price cap, warning customers not to expect bill reductions. In 2022, 7.39 million households in England spent more than 10% of their income on energy costs. Nearly eight million people in the UK struggled to pay energy bills last year, with 13.4% of households experiencing fuel poverty, up from 13.1% in 2021.
Fuel Poverty Action is advocating for a new energy pricing system called Energy For All to tackle these issues.
The government's 2030 fuel poverty target remains distant. With the fuel poverty gap projected to reach £443 in 2023, and millions of households struggling to pay energy bills, urgent action is needed. Campaigns like Energy For All call for a fairer energy pricing system, while the government must accelerate progress towards its energy efficiency goals.
