Call for energy literacy programme to help residents save on their heating bills and fight fuel poverty

Bristol City Council will examine how to ensure that its council tenants have access to the information needed to heat their home safely, efficiently and economically to tackle fuel poverty in the city. The issue was raised in a council motion submitted by the Liberal Democrats, who worked with the Bristol Northwest Food Bank and Centre for Sustainable Energy to shape the recommendations.

Fuel poverty is an issue that affects many residents in the Bristol, with the Bristol Energy Cooperative estimating that 10.6% of Bristol households were living in fuel poverty in 2025. According to the Bristol Northwest Food Bank, 35% of those accessing their service cited fuel poverty as their primary reason for doing so.

Everyone should be able to heat their home, and a lack of knowledge on how to do so effectively and efficiently should never be a cause of households falling into fuel poverty. The motion calls for the council to do what it can to ensure that residents are empowered to make the most of their heating systems and prevent the effects of fuel poverty being exacerbated, while setting an example for other housing providers in the city.

Cllr Zoë Peat (Liberal Democrat, Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston), who moved the motion, said:

“As a landlord, Bristol City Council has a duty of care to its tenants. This responsibility extends beyond brick and mortar to ensuring that no resident is unnecessarily living in poverty. With the cost-of-living crisis and high energy prices, the council must ensure that its tenants can heat their homes economically and know how to access support.

“This responsibility becomes even more paramount when looking at the scale of fuel poverty in the city, and how it is a significant driver of food bank use. In 2025, over 21,000 homes within Bristol were living in fuel poverty, at a rate higher than the national average. More must be done to tackle fuel poverty in our city.

“While there are larger issues underpinning fuel poverty, such as national economic trends and global geopolitical instability, this motion focuses on what action the council can take to help its residents with heating their homes.

“We need to make it as easy as possible for someone struggling to access the information they need. That means recognising that accessibility is not optional but instead, essential.

“The motion calls for measures to ensure that no one is digitally excluded, that information is available throughout the tenancy and not just at the start, at that disabilities and language barriers are no impediment to accessing high-quality, relevant information. “

Further, the motion also seeks to help more than just council tenants, by making available the resources to all Bristol residents, so that anyone struggling to heat their homes can access the support and information they need.

Passing with unanimous cross-party support at full council, a report is set to come to a future meeting of the Homes and Housing Delivery Policy Committee to consider the issues and proposals raised.

Notes to Editors:

• The motion was passed with alterations at the meeting of Full Council on 8^th September 2026. The text of the altered motion can be found from page 7 here: (Public Pack)Altered Golden Motion for Full Council 8 Sep 2026 Agenda Supplement for Full Council, 08/09/2026 18:00
• A member of the public, Josephine Robinson, submitted the following statement in support of the motion (Statement PS 137, p160):
  • “I live in an over 50’s block in Shirehampton and have night storage heaters from the 60’s, which are outdated, complicated and create intense difficulties for me and other residents in my block. I do not find my heating system easy to use and have had to have council engineers come and set the controls 7 times because I didn’t understand it. But even they haven’t been able to help people with the newer models of storage heaters. In January 24, I got an enormous energy bill of £800. Devastating and left me without food for myself or my animals. A direct consequence of the inefficiency and not understanding how to use the system economically. Many people in my block seem to have given up on them because they don’t understand them or can’t afford them. Instead, many are using plug-in electric heaters, which poses a dangerous fire risk in high rise flats. There are older tenants who spend winters wrapped up without heating on. I believe it is important that the Council support the Energy Literacy motion so that people get the support they need to access heating efficiently and economically.”
• A member of the public, Eleni Morus, submitted the following statement in support of the motion (Statement PS 139, p162):
  • “Fuel poverty is the single biggest driver of foodbank use, especially during colder weather. Too many people are having to choose between heating and eating. When people come to the foodbank, they know they can at least cover their food needs for a few days, allowing them to switch on the heating without worrying about how they will afford their next meal. Being unable to afford to heat your home or access hot water is a profoundly dehumanising experience. Living in a cold home and being unable to sleep because of the temperature can seriously affect a person's mental health. This in turn impacts every aspect of life, including the ability to work, learn, socialise, and participate fully in society. Many people who pay for their energy by direct debit accumulate large debts that they have little realistic prospect of repaying. As a result, they are often moved onto prepayment meters to prevent further debt from building up. However, this can leave people without heating or hot water when they cannot afford to top up their meter. We must do more to ensure that vulnerable people are not left in situations where they are unable to meet such basic human needs as warmth and hot water. There is still far too little awareness of how many people struggle with literacy and therefore find it difficult to manage tasks such as reporting repairs or navigating housing services. These tenants often need much more support than is currently available. Greater thought needs to be given to how councils communicate with their tenants. This could include providing information in Easy Read formats, using picture-based guides and videos, and carrying out vulnerability assessments to identify those who may need additional support. Councils should also ask tenants how they prefer to receive information and communicate with services. While this requires additional time and resources, effective communication must be tailored to individual needs. Without this, some of the most vulnerable tenants’ risk being excluded from accessing the support and services they need. If people do not understand how to use their heating systems, including newer technologies such as heat pumps, they can end up paying far more for energy than necessary. We have already seen examples of this happening. Providing residents with clear guidance, practical demonstrations, and ongoing support is not an added cost, but an investment. When people know how to use their heating systems efficiently, they are more likely to keep their energy bills under control, reducing the risk of financial hardship. This leaves more money available for other essential expenses, including rent, helping to prevent debt and arrears. The benefits go beyond finances. Being able to afford adequate heating improves people's physical health, mental wellbeing, and overall quality of life. In turn, this supports their ability to work, learn, care for their families, and participate in their communities. Ensuring people have the knowledge and support they need to use their heating effectively should be seen as a key part of tackling fuel poverty and promoting long term wellbeing. Better support means using more inclusive and accessible ways of communicating with tenants. This could include Easy Read information, picture-based guides, instructional videos, and practical demonstrations when people move into a property. These approaches can help ensure that tenants understand how to use their home and its systems effectively, particularly heating and hot water systems. They are beneficial not only for people with low literacy levels, but also for those whose first language is not English, as well as people with learning disabilities or other communication needs. Investing in accessible communication helps people make the most of their homes, reduces the risk of avoidable problems and costs, and ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to access the information and support they need.”