A new analysis by Friends of the Earth has identified nearly 9,000 'energy crisis hotspots' across England and Wales where high energy use and low incomes put residents at severe risk of financial hardship. The study highlights Birmingham, Bradford and Cornwall as the areas with the largest concentrations of these neighbourhoods.
In Birmingham, 65% of neighbourhoods are deemed at risk, with more than 59,000 homes requiring loft insulation and over 47,000 lacking cavity wall insulation. Bradford has 162 hotspot areas, where annual energy bills could reach £3,259 from October. Cornwall residents may need to spend around a fifth of their salaries on energy, prompting local council warnings against turning off fridges to save money.
Other areas identified include Sandwell in the West Midlands, County Durham in north-east England, and Enfield in north London. The study found that these communities have a higher proportion of children, and people of colour are twice as likely to live in them.
The warning comes as energy regulator Ofgem is expected to announce the next price cap on Friday. Without intervention, annual bills are forecast to rise from £1,971 to £3,582 in October, and exceed £4,200 by January. The government is exploring ways to reduce bills, particularly for vulnerable consumers.
Friends of the Earth's Mike Childs called for immediate financial help and a long-term programme of energy efficiency measures. A separate study by the New Economics Foundation suggests households could save between £490 and £720 annually through council-led insulation schemes.
