15,000 poorly insulated homes in West Berkshire are paying £14m more in heating bills

The Government’s failure to insulate Britain’s homes is leading to families in West Berkshire paying over £14m more a year for their energy bills, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

Analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows 15,000 homes across West Berkshire have received poor energy efficiency ratings (EPC Bands D-G) since 2008. These households pay an average of £931 more a year than those with a Band C rating. Meanwhile, those on the lowest energy efficiency ratings pay nearly £1,350 more a year.

It means that in total, households in poorly insulated homes in West Berkshire are set to pay an estimated £14m more in energy bills a year because the government has failed to bring them up to at least a Band C rating. The government’s target is for all homes to be Band C or better by 2035.

Nationally, 13 million homes across the UK have poor energy efficiency ratings and the Conservatives’ failure to upgrade homes leaves some households paying nearly £1,900 more than needed. The total cost due to the lack of insulation is an eye-watering £13 billion. 

In some areas over four in five families are living in leaky homes. West Berkshire’s Liberal Democrats are calling for an emergency programme to insulate our homes, bringing down bills and improving energy security. 

Liberal Democrat Shadow Portfolio Holder for Environment, Climate Change & Public Protection on West Berkshire Council, Adrian Abbs said:

“This Government’s failure to tackle our cold and leaky homes has piled misery on top of the cost of living crisis. It has left families in West Berkshire struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table.

“Now is the time for this new Conservative Prime Minister to make our homes warmer. If they don’t, we are facing another energy crisis in the future. 

“An emergency package of support is needed to fix West Berkshire’s leaky homes and cut energy bills in the long term.”