Data sources and definitions
The Fuel Poverty Indicator is a statistical model of fuel poverty based on the 2003 English House Condition Survey (EHCS) and 2001 Census.
In brief, the EHCS was used to predict the risk of fuel poverty for different household types, the results were then applied to the 2001 Census to predict the level of fuel poverty for all Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) in England. (LSOAs are geographical units used in the Census, each of which contain approximately the same number of households - about 400. For more information see www.statistics.gov.uk/geography/soa.asp).
The four definitions of fuel poverty used for the fuel poverty indicator are:
1 Full income
A household is in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime and cover other normal fuel costs, it would be required to spend more than 10% of its income on all household fuel use. 'Income' by this definition includes Housing Benefit, Income Support for Mortgage Interest, and Council Tax Benefit.
This is the Government's official definition of fuel poverty.
2 Basic income
As above except that Housing Benefit, Income Support for Mortgage Interest and Council Tax Benefit are not included as income.
3 Full income (equivalised)
As ‘Full income’ except that income is ‘equivalised’ and very low incomes are ‘not imputed’*.
4 Basic income (equivalised)
As ‘Basic income’ except that income is 'equivalised' and very low incomes are ‘not imputed’*.
Definitions 1) and 2) are used for the Government's official fuel poverty statistics. Definitions 3) and 4) are consistent with the measurement of income used by the Government's Households Below Average Income (HBAI) statistical series.
The maps generated by the Fuel Poverty Indicator correspond to definition 1).
* 'Equivalised' incomes are adjusted for household size and composition. Very low incomes are ‘not imputed’ when the reported household income is assumed to be accurate. This is the case with the HBAI statistics, but contrasts with the EHCS which assumes that all households have incomes at benefit levels, as a minimum.
Limitations of the data
The maps and data presented on this website show how the national level of fuel poverty in England in 2003 was distributed at small area level.
It is important to note that the FPI only predicts the level of fuel poverty in individual areas. It cannot take into account local circumstances. As with all small-area indicators, it is important to use local knowledge and data to complement the FPI when developing local fuel poverty programmes.
Fuel poverty has, at the very least, doubled since 2003, not least due to the substantial rise in fuel prices. Please take this into account when interpreting FPI scores for individual areas, and bear in mind, too, that the increase in fuel poverty has been uneven, and varies according to household types and tenure.
The FPI still gives a valuable guide to the relative differences between individual areas.
