Over one in eight households in Devon are in fuel poverty (12.95%), which is higher than in the South West (12.16%), local authority comparator group (10.26%), and England (10.56%) rates. Levels of fuel poverty Devon are the highest in the local authority comparator group.

East Devon has a high proportion of elderly people, employment opportunities are limited and wages low for younger people in work – all factors that add to local fuel poverty. As this is a rural area, many properties have no access to gas mains supply and use expensive prepayment electricity. Whilst some households are equipped with multi-fuel or log burning stoves, many struggle to buy the wood for burning, often resorting to burning unsuitable timber and other materials.

This can cause damage that is expensive to repair. Buying dry, split and seasoned logs is expensive – whilst felling, collecting and processing timber is dangerous and often physically impossible for individuals, especially the elderly.