Innovate and thrive: E.ON marks Fuel Poverty Awareness Day with call for action to support struggling households

Across the UK, millions of people – including families with children – remain in fuel poverty. After more than four years of the energy crisis sparked by the war in Ukraine, household budgets are stretched to breaking point and energy debt is at record levels. Many are being forced to choose between falling further into arrears or living in cold, unhealthy homes that undermine both physical and mental wellbeing. 

The scale of the challenge remains stark: 

• In England, an estimated 2.73 million households (11%) were in fuel poverty in 2024 under the LILEE metric. 

• In Scotland, around 830,000 households (33%) are projected to be in fuel poverty between October and December 2025—up 10,000 from the previous quarter. 

• In Wales, 25% of all households (340,000) were in fuel poverty in 2024, including 83% of lower-income households, with nearly a quarter of those in severe fuel poverty. 

“We are hearing more and more stories of hardworking people who can no longer afford to heat their homes properly or enjoy simple comforts like baking for loved ones,” said   Ramona Vlasiu,  Chief Operating Officer, E.ON Next“With Christmas approaching and temperatures falling, that pressure will only intensify. The clean energy transition can make the cost of living more affordable – and the innovative trials we’re delivering around the country today show what’s possible. Now we need to scale these solutions, so no household is left behind.” 

E.ON has long advocated that affordability and sustainability must go hand-in-hand. The company continues to invest in solutions sand innovations that reduce bills, improve energy efficiency, and make low-carbon technologies accessible to more people. Recent initiatives include: 

• A pioneering partnership with Northern Powergrid providing free batteries and insulation to cut customer bills. 

• Next Gen Home, a market-first proposition removing upfront cost barriers to sustainable home technologies. 

• A Strategic Energy Partnership with Coventry City Council, using Warm Homes Discount funds to install batteries in eligible homes. 

E.ON trials to date have delivered meaningful savings for customers, of up to £480 per household per year. If rolled out nationally, the Northern Powergrid model could deliver substantial financial relief for households in fuel poverty.    

Beyond the numbers, real people such as Janet, Ron and Angus are already feeling the difference in their day-to-day lives. 

Ramona Vlasiu continues: “Our trials across the country prove that flexibility puts people in control of their energy use. It lowers their bills and reduces pressure on the network, helping us to get the most out of our cleaner energy sources. We should be treating flexibility as a core national asset, and putting batteries and other sustainable technologies into homes across the country – particularly for people who need the most financial support – should be the start of that journey. 

Duncan Oliphant, Head of Commercial Flexibility at Northern Powergrid said: “Flexibility enables us to operate, plan and deliver a more efficient electricity distribution network. The better we can balance local generation, storage and consumption the more control, predictability, and optionality we have over where and when we invest in the network – ensuring we make the optimum investment decisions on behalf of our customers.” 

E.ON also offers a range of more immediate support packages for customers struggling with the cost of living. Specially trained energy specialists provide sensitive, practical help for those facing financial difficulty, health or social challenges, or changes in circumstances. Support includes flexible payment arrangements, access to the E.ON Next Energy Fund—which can clear energy debt and provide essential energy-efficient appliances—and eligibility-based energy-efficiency measures for longer-term resilience. E.ON works closely with leading debt-advice charities to design and deliver effective customer support, and through the partnership with Lightning Reach, customers can easily access personalised grants and assistance from thousands of UK schemes.