Who are the Fuel Poor?
The fuel poor are people who spend more than 10% of their monthly income on fuel, particularly the fuel required to keep a home warm. Fuel poverty is a serious problem in Northern Europe, parts of Asia, and North America, where cold winters can get very severe, posing a potential danger to people who cannot afford to heat their homes. In recognition of this, many governments offer financial assistance to people who cannot pay their heating bills, to ensure that their homes are kept warmed, at least to the minimal standard necessary for survival. Several factors usually come together to make someone fuel poor. The first factor, of course, is poverty; the less money you have, the less money you have to spend on heat. High fuel costs are also a factor, especially when they rise abruptly, before wages have a chance to come up. Energy inefficiency is also an issue, as it costs more to heat an inefficient home. Low-income families, people with disabilities, and the elderly are at the highest
