Welcome to the latest fuel poverty newsletter from the Rural Vulnerability Service - brought to you by the Rural Services Network and the Rural England CIC in association with Calor.

Limited options for fuel in rural localities – many of which lack mains gas – make efficient fuel use and insulation particularly important for countryside communities.

In addition, rural residents face the challenges of lower average wages, an ageing population and single-skin, solid wall or non-cavity wall properties.

The Rural Services Network believes the national picture must not mask this extra rural dimension.

Latest updates:

Help is available to keep warm during winter

A HELPING hand is being offered to try and improve conditions for people living in cold, damp homes by campaign group Warm and Well.
(Northern Echo)

Hundreds to benefit from lower fuel bills

RESIDENTS across Renfrewshire are set to benefit from lower fuel bills this year as an energy efficiency scheme is expanded.
(The Gazette)

Robin Hood Energy posts £7.6m loss

Council-owned Robin Hood Energy has posted a £7.6 million loss for the year to the end of March 2017.
(Utility Week)

One in eight northern households battle fuel poverty

On average, 11% of households in England are fuel poor – but the figure is as high as 13.3% of households in north-east England.
(The Times)

MP demands government action on fuel poverty

THE Government needs to do more to make homes energy efficient in order to combat fuel poverty, a Bolton MP has said.
(Bolton News)

You can help tackle winter fuel poverty

More than £23,000 has been raised by generous donors to help elderly residents who can’t afford heating this winter.
(EDP24)

Winter poverty means choice of heating or eating

The Surviving Winter campaign has handed out more than £8,000 in grants to help pay for heating costs for those in need across Norfolk.
(EDP24)

Funding available to help reduce fuel poverty

COUNCILLORS are to vote on Darlington's participation in a project that aims to address issues relating to fuel poverty.
(Northern Echo)

Looking at work of Dorset Community Foundation

The Dorset Community Foundation is working to combat fuel poverty this winter.
(Dorset Echo)

Call to stop Highland fuel surcharge ‘rip-off’

Ministers are being urged to end a “rip-off” which forces Highland households to pay more for electricity than people in the rest of the UK.
(The Times)

Fuel bank heats more than 1,000 homes this winter

The npower Fuel Bank, which works alongside Durham’s food bank, gives out pre-payment meters vouchers for gas and electricity.
(Northern Echo)

Thousands of homes to see their energy bills double

With annual increases of up to £418 more families may face fuel poverty, forcing them to choose between heating and eating.
(The Mirror)

Staying warm in Highlands costs £400 a year more

People in the Highlands pay about £400 a year more in electricity bills than the rest of Scotland
(The Times)