Updating the Fuel Poverty Indicator
Updating the Fuel Poverty Indicator
Enhancing the power and value of the FPI by using more up to date data and by taking advantage of better data
This project updates the CSE and Bristol University fuel poverty indicator (www.fuelpovertyindicator.co.uk).
The current fuel poverty indicator (FPI) predicts the incidence of fuel poverty at ward level and is based on modeled data from the 1991 Census and 1996 English House Condition Survey (EHCS). Since publication of the FPI in 2003, the tool has become widely used for informing affordable warmth policies, the targeting of fuel poverty programmes at a local level and research.
This project aimed to enhance the power and value of the FPI by using more up-to-date data and by taking advantage of improvements to the collection and outputting of data from the 2001 Census and 2003 EHCS.
The project:
- updated the FPI using 2001 Census, 2003 EHCS and property information (RESIDATA) data
- made the resulting information fully and freely accessible and interactive, with mapped data available for download through the internet
- undertook continuing validation
- produced bi-annual published updates
- promoted the FPI to health professionals and carried out preliminary research on possible associations between fuel poverty and health inequalities
The project involved the following work:
- Harmonising 2001 Census and 2003 EHCS data to enable the different data sets used and definitions applied in the surveys to be analysed consistently
- EHCS Fuel Poverty Modelling to create a series of models (reflecting different definitions of fuel poverty based on four different income definitions) to obtain weightings for the best subset of variables to predict fuel poverty
- 2001 Census Modelling and Analysis to identify the best subset of predictors (common to the 2003 EHCS and the 2001 Census) of fuel poverty
- Data visualisation and thematic mapping to assist the analysis by exploring the relationships between different spatial data sets
- The report of the research to give a full account of the methodology used and the research findings to facilitate peer review. This accompanied a database of the FPI results for the 4 income definitions at various levels of geography
- GIS mapping of the updated FPI at lower Super Output Area level for all English counties (using the 'official' Government fuel poverty definition)
- Mount maps and data on a publicly accessible website
- Dissemination of the FPI and ongoing support to users, including a national launch event in January 2007. CSE also set up a 'health portal' to monitor and evaluate use of the FPI by health professionals. CSE will carry out some preliminary research into the possible associations between fuel poverty and health inequalities
- Continuing validation, for example, an analysis of face and construct validity and a reliability analysis
- Bi-annual updates as new EHCS fuel poverty data becomes available (subject to funding)
The updated FPI will effectively predict how fuel poverty, as measured at the national level by the EHCS, is distributed at the small area level across England. CSE published the new FPI and its associated website in May 2007.
The DTI will encourage regional and local agencies to use the new FPI within regional and local energy strategies. Many other agencies (e.g. fuel suppliers, health organisations, energy efficiency organisations, research bodies) should also find the new FPI an invaluable tool for their work.
While the core project will provide county maps of fuel poverty at lower level super output area, CSE can also provide a bespoke service for interested parties, e.g.
- Maps and data of the FPI at Output Area level for particular areas
- Maps and data on fuel poverty using alternative definitions of fuel poverty (e.g. using an 'After Housing Costs' definition of income)
- Interpretation of the distribution of fuel poverty within a particular area and its implications for the planning and delivery of fuel poverty programmes/strategies