This document discusses a research project exploring the link between energy demand and questions of need and justice. It examines how energy use enables capabilities that contribute to well-being, such as health, social interaction, and meaningful activities. The document looks at theories of needs and justice, research on minimum living standards that consider necessary energy-using items, and analyses of fuel poverty policies that primarily focus on heating despite other energy uses also mattering for well-being. It argues that fuel poverty policies should give more consideration to non-heating energy uses.

1. What energy uses matter? fuel
poverty beyond heating
Gordon Walker Lancaster University
Neil Simcock, Lancaster University
Rosie Day, University of Birmingham
www.demand.ac.uk

2. Project 4.1: Energy, Need and Justice
explores the linkages between energy demand and questions of need and
justice, through an interplay between theory, media analysis, public
deliberation and analysing principles embedded in infrastructural systems
Project 4.2: Need, mobility poverty and the ethics of the future cost of mobility
examines how people in different income brackets respond to transport
needs and how far policy should support these; evaluates future scenarios
in terms of differential affordability, access and mobility justice (Leeds).
Linked project: Energy-related economic stress in the UK, at the interface between
transport, housing and fuel poverty
develops the concept of transport poverty, exploring its relationships with
housing and fuel poverty, and implications for energy demand reduction
and social justice (Leeds)
Some research context …

3.  Fuel poverty policy seeks to make the use of energy
affordable, particularly for those who are disadvantaged and
vulnerable.
 But what uses of household energy matter? Energy for
what?
 For heating, because of the demonstrable and accepted
need for people to keep warm and healthy in their homes.
 But energy for what else, and why?
The question …

4.  How might thinking on needs, justice and well-being provide a
foundation for establishing the ways in which energy use
contributes to a minimally-decent quality of life?
 What range of energy-consuming goods and services figure in
public assessments of what is necessary for a decent living
standard in the UK?
 What energy uses does current fuel poverty policy engage with
and how?
Answering the question …

5.  ‘capabilities framework’ of Sen and Nussbaum
 well-being (and social justice) is about what people are able to
do or to be - their ‘capabilities’ - not simply their income or
other assets.
 to have a minimally-decent quality of life involves multiple
capabilities, because well-being is multidimensional e.g. the
capability to:
 sustain good physical health
 interact socially
 be respected by others
 have meaningful work and education opportunities.
Looking to theory …

6.  Energy use is significant to well-being not for its own sake, but
because of how it enables the delivery of energy services
 heat, light, refrigeration and mobility
 These energy services contribute to the ‘capabilities’ that
people have and thereby to their everyday well-being.
 E.g. artificial light enables people to study and learn into the evening, to
move around safely and to participate in social activities.
 Since a minimally-decent quality of life involves multiple
capabilities, various energy services matter to people’s capabilities
and well-being, and for different reasons.
 But .. does not resolve which forms and levels of energy service matter to the
extent that they are ‘essential’ to achieving basic capabilities.
Looking to theory …

7. Looking to deliberation …
 Minimum Income Standards (MIS) Research
 longitudinal research led by Loughborough Uni and Joseph Rowntree
Foundation 2008-2014, bi-annual iterations
 Generates lists of the items and activities UK citizens need for a
minimum-acceptable standard of living
 Uses a consensual method to decide which items are necessities
 i.e. The public decide through a ‘democratic’ process
 42 focus groups of 6-8 participants (varies by iteration)
 Different groups for different household types
 Range of socio-economic circumstances

8. What energy consuming items did the groups consider to be
necessities? (a snapshot)
Items in 2008 MIS NEW items in 2014 MIS
Every household
- Gas central heating
- Main lights, side lights, nightlights
- Landline and mobile telephones
- TV, CD player, DVD player
- Fridge freezer, cooker, kettle, toaster
- Vacuum; iron; washing machine
- Public transport + taxis
Every household
- Home access to PC and internet
- 32-inch television
Particular households
- Computer, printer, broadband internet
- Steamer; microwave
- Hairdryer; Hair straighteners
Particular households
- Extra laptop (more than one school-aged child)
- Slow-cooker (partnered pensioners)
- Tumble dryer (family with over three children)
- Car (families with children)

9. Looking to deliberation …
 Participant rationales for including energy using items:
 to maintain good health – for example, central heating to
ensure warmth, refrigeration and cooking to be able to eat well
 because they are so widespread and customary that they are
required in order to be able to ‘fit in’ and socially interact with
others – for example, mobile phone and TVs.
 because there are few reasonable alternatives if people are to
participate in valued activities such as work and education – for
example, having a PC and internet access at home for school
homework and accessing the job market.
 again multiple energy uses matter for well-being; for multiple
reasons … plus there is change over time

10. Looking to policy …
 FP policy recognises the need for household expenditure on
multiple energy uses:
a household is considered to be fuel poor if:
they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national
median level)
were they to spend that amount, they would be left with a residual
income below the official poverty line.
 ‘required fuel’, in the modelling of fuel poverty statistics includes
energy for heating, hot water, cooking, lighting, appliances
Mean Calculated Fuel Costs by
Use (DECC 2014)

11. Looking to policy …
 BUT fuel poverty policy focuses almost exclusively on heating
 5 of the most recent official reports on fuel poverty, ‘heating’
and ‘warmth’ are referred to 377 times; only 30 mentions in
total of lighting, cooking, appliances or water heating.
 the 2012 Hills Review:
 two pages of analysis on the ‘Health and social effects of living
at low temperatures’,
 non-heating uses referred to in a footnote.
 very little detail in modelling of ‘required energy’ for
categories other than heating – reliant on average
consumption, not a standard of energy service

12. Looking to policy …
 BUT fuel poverty policy focuses almost exclusively on heating
 5 of the most recent official reports on fuel poverty, ‘heating’
and ‘warmth’ are referred to 377 times; only 30 mentions in
total of lighting, cooking, appliances or water heating.
 the 2012 Hills Review:
 two pages of analysis on the ‘Health and social effects of living
at low temperatures’,
 non-heating uses referred to in a footnote.
 very little detail in modelling of ‘required energy’ for
categories other than heating – reliant on average
consumption, not a standard of energy service

13. Looking to policy …
Scheme Eligible population Type of assistance Energy uses targeted
ECO
Affordable
Warmth
Obligation
Those claiming certain income-
related benefits
Grants for: boiler
replacement/ repair; house
insulation; any other measure
that will result in a heating
saving
Space heating; water
heating
ECO Carbon
Savings
Communities
Obligation
Those living within specified
localities of low income
Grants for: house insulation;
district heating
Space heating; water
heating
Cold Weather
Payment
Those claiming certain income-
related benefits. Available only
during periods of cold weather
Income support payment Designed to support
payment of heating
bills
Winter Fuel
Payment
Those of pensionable age.
Available only during winter
months.
Income support payment Designed to support
payment of heating
bills
Warm Home
Discount
Older people on low incomes OR
a broader group defined by the
energy supplier as vulnerable
Rebate on electricity bill
(£120-£140)
All energy costs
Home Heat
Helpline
All UK households Expert advice on energy saving
measures, switching energy
supplier, and eligibility for
other support measures
Potentially all energy
uses

14. Implications for policy …
 there are grounds (theoretical and empirical) for arguing that non-
heating energy uses do substantially matter in their own terms.
 fuel poverty policy needs to give these more careful and balanced
consideration: e.g.
 how particular energy services matter for an acceptable standard of
living, and do or do not merit policy support
 how there may be distinct forms of vulnerability for particular groups
that relate to non-heating energy uses
 how ‘under-spending’ on key services might be a problem for
cooking, lighting, hot water and other uses, as well as heating
 how less efficient non-heating technologies may be particularly
concentrated in low income households.
 how planned peak-pricing with roll out of smart meters, may largely
impact on uses of energy other than for space and water heating