BRITISH GAS profits have surged tenfold while millions of people remain trapped in fuel poverty and saddled with debt.

Data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published today shows 13 per cent of English households – around 3.17 million – were in fuel poverty last year. 

These households possess an energy efficiency rating of band D or lower, with disposable incomes falling below the poverty line after housing and fuel expenses.

The data showed that more than a third of households, approximately 8.91 million, were forced to spend over a tenth of their income, after housing costs, on energy bills.

Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Georgia Whitaker said: “Progress on tackling fuel poverty is flatlining, despite the ongoing energy crisis, which has forced those on the lowest incomes to freeze in their own homes.

“The cheapest and most effective way to help is to insulate homes, but government funding for energy efficiency schemes was pushed off a cliff edge by ministers over a decade ago.”

She said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made the crisis “infinitely worse” by removing the legal requirement on private landlords to insulate homes, which would have saved fuel-poor renters hundreds of pounds on their energy bills every year.

“This is life-changing stuff but our government clearly does not care,” she said.

“Sunak needs to drop his anti-green agenda, as measures that help to tackle the climate crisis also help to ease the cost of living for those who need it the most.

“Whichever party wins the next general election, people deserve better climate leadership.”

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said the figures do not show a “true picture of suffering” as they exclude millions of households in certain energy performance categories as well as many who receive a Warm Home Discount.

“The reality is that household energy debt is now at record levels, millions of people are living in cold, damp homes and children are suffering in mouldy conditions.”

According to Citizens Advice, 7.8 million people borrowed to pay their energy bills in the first six months of 2023. 

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “Our energy bill support schemes and progress in making homes more energy efficient have protected hundreds of thousands of households. We’ve halved inflation and energy prices are now significantly lower than their peak last year — but we recognise the cost-of-living challenges that families are still facing.”