People living in poorer households are more likely to face higher energy costs than those who do not, a recent study led by the University of Edinburgh Business School shows. Those in low income households are more likely to pay more for their basic energy tariff and also incur higher costs per unit of energy compared with more affluent households, research suggests.
Hands holding an energy meter, details like date, time and temperature are indicated on the LCD display

Multiple pathways

The study found people can incur higher premiums through multiple pathways – including the use of non-standard billing methods such as prepayment meters. Other factors which increased the likelihood of higher premiums include the presence of children or unemployed adults in a household and living in rented accommodation, an apartment or a flat. On average, poor households paid between 10 to 20 per cent more per unit than higher income households for both gas and electricity, between 2011 and 2019, the research found.

Average premiums

Researchers say the findings shed light on the average premiums incurred by poor households, and could aid targeted policy interventions. A team at the Business School applied statistical methods to two large datasets, to measure how much people from poorer households pay for their gas and electricity use, and the drivers that lead to higher costs. Researchers merged two sets of UK household data with figures from the UK Government’s National Energy Efficiency Data-Framework (NEED). They combined the data with a statistical theory in a new approach to assessing the energy premiums faced by those in poorer households.

Poverty status

They found that household poverty status significantly affected the likelihood and intensity of gas and electricity premiums. This was the case even when other factors such as property type, payment method, geographical location, gender and age were taken into account. Researchers say their method, which is based on detailed household-level data to compare energy expenditure per unit between households with different incomes, is an accurate approach to measuring how poverty can influence energy costs.

Fiona Rasanga, a PhD student who led the study, said: 'The findings shed light on how the poverty premium – or the idea that the poor pay more for essential goods and services – directly impacts the economic wellbeing of poor households. Policymakers could use the proposed measurement approach to keep track of the poverty premium and its economic impact on households.'

Read the full paper on ScienceDirect: Measuring the energy poverty premium in Great Britain and identifying its main drivers based on longitudinal household survey data.