Today, as part of Energy Saving Week 2025, we shine a spotlight on fuel poverty!
In Northern Ireland, a household is considered to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10% of its household income to maintain a satisfactory level of heating and power. According to a recent poll by National Energy Action (NEA), 39% of households in Northern Ireland are estimated to be in fuel poverty, which is a startling figure!
Fuel poverty is influenced by a range of factors, including income, the cost of energy, and how much energy is used. As part of Energy Saving Week, we have already reflected on the energy efficiency of our housing stock and later this week we will provide further tips and advice to reduce costs. There are a range of actions you can consider to help reduce energy costs, with some examples provided below.
We would advise all of our tenants to check that you are receiving all the money, supports and services you may be entitled to. You can ‘make the call’ by phoning 0800 232 1271, or you can use an online benefits calculator at Benefits Calculator | nidirect.
Alternatively, please contact a member of our Financial Inclusion Team for more support and advice.
You can also visit the Consumer Council’s website for advice on energy saving and to compare electricity, gas, and heating oil prices using their price-checker tools. See Electricity, oil and gas | Consumer Council.
It is helpful to regularly compare energy providers and available tariffs, whilst also considering other options including different payment methods.
Further information on energy providers and switching suppliers is available on the energy section of our website.
Energy bills can sometimes seem complex, but understanding a few simple terms helps you stay in control of your energy use. A tariff is the price you pay per unit of energy, normally measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt-hour represents the amount of energy used by a 1,000-watt appliance running for one hour.
Bills may also include a standing charge, which is a fixed fee that covers the cost of supplying energy to your property, and a unit rate, the cost you pay for each kWh used. Knowing these terms helps you compare tariffs effectively and ensure you’re getting the best deal from your supplier.
If you use heating oil, then you may be able to take advantage of the ‘NIHE Oil Saving Club’, which is a free scheme run by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. These clubs operate on a simple and effective principle: pooling the orders of individual households to buy oil in bulk, resulting in lower prices per litre than if purchasing separately.
Households can also place smaller, more manageable orders more frequently if required, which can help with budgeting. Average savings for those using the network are around £10–£30 on 200 litres of heating oil. For more information on the NIHE Oil Saving Club, see The Housing Executive – Oil Savings Network or contact the Northern Ireland Housing Executive on 0800 111 4455.
Depending on the type of property you live in, Choice may be responsible for heating costs for your home or for communal areas near your home, and also for associated electricity costs (e.g., power, lighting and lifts). Each year Choice spends over £2 million on landlord energy costs, with much of this recharged to tenants through heating and service charges, and so we take this responsibility very seriously.
In 2024 our dedicated Sustainability & Energy Team within Choice entered into new electricity and natural gas contracts, with new contracts expected to commence in 2026. Choice also validated energy costs and identified over £40,000 of billing errors in 2024/25, resolving these to help ensure energy costs are kept as low as possible.
