Welsh Council Reports Progress in Tackling Fuel Poverty Through Energy Efficiency Measures

A Welsh council says it has made “significant progress” in making people’s homes more energy efficient as it aims to tackle fuel poverty.
An update on the Affordable Warmth Strategy: Warm Homes, Prosperous Lives strategy which covers 2025 to 2030 was presented to Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) council’s climate change, frontline services, and prosperity scrutiny committee on Wednesday, September 16.
The committee report says “significant progress” has been made in improving the energy efficiency of homes during the first year of the strategy through the delivery of things like heating grants and solar panel grants.
The report says the measures taken have improved thermal comfort, reduced fuel poverty risks, and strengthened the resilience of residents facing rising energy costs.
RCT has delivered 83 heating grants to homes through shared prosperity
funding with approximately £363,000 invested in heating improvements and
a total saving for residents of £34,511 with an average saving of £415 saving per household.
It has also delivered 34 grants as part of the targeted area-based activity in
Penrhiwceiber with more than £152,000 invested in energy efficiency improvements and maximising support within a priority area to tackle poverty.
The report said the council has delivered 34 solar panel grants through shared prosperity funding, spending more than £37,000 on renewable energy technologies, supporting the transition towards low-carbon energy generation, and helping residents reduce reliance on grid electricity improving long-term energy affordability, which has provided potential savings to residents of £14,137.
It has provided 77 home improvement loans of which 52 were for energy efficiency measures including 14 for six energy-related products, five for solar PV, two for solar batteries, four for insulation, three for new boilers, and 24 for double-glazed windows.
The council has issued 238 ECO4 Flex scheme declarations, with 83% of properties achieving EPC (energy performance certificate) rating A-C, resulting in homes improving their energy performance and creating warmer and more affordable to heat homes.
It has installed 843 measures under the Welsh Government warm homes Nest scheme, which include the delivery of 455 boiler replacements, completing 205 solar PV and battery storage installations, and installing 107 loft insulation measures.
The council has saved approximately 3.8 tonnes of carbon per household through heating grant, where coal systems have been replaced with efficient gas boilers contributing to improving property energy performance and reducing carbon emissions. 
The report said RCT has saved approximately 3.2 tonnes of carbon for households through heating grant that have received boiler and radiator replacements, which has contributed to improving the energy efficiency performance of homes, reduced carbon emissions, and made homes more affordable to heat .
It has maintained 85% of homes in RCT having a lodged EPC rating of D or above. As EPCs have a 10-year validity period there is a natural drop-off in recorded certificates over time as existing EPCs expire and are not renewed. 
And RCT has secured £500,000 of externally-funded local growth fund to continue to deliver heating and solar panel grants in 2026-27. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​