What assessment has the Welsh Government made of the recent National Energy Action Cymru polling that found that 51 per cent of Welsh adults are likely to ration their energy use this winter?
Welsh Government officials work closely with National Energy Action Cymru in raising awareness, including through this poll, of the challenges householders are experiencing in relation to their energy bills.
The Welsh Government continues to provide emergency funding for vulnerable people, who find themselves in financial crisis. The £38.5 million Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) provides support for off grid fuel for those in financial crisis with no other means of support. This is available throughout the year.
Since June 2022 we have also allocated more than £5.6 million funding to enable the Fuel Bank Foundation to introduce a national Fuel Voucher and Heat Fund scheme in Wales. The scheme has provided support to eligible households that pre-pay for their fuel and are at risk of disconnection. This includes the provision of fuel vouchers for homes with prepayment meters and deliveries of oil or gas for those not connected to the mains gas network.
We are also investing £30 million this year into our Warm Homes Nest scheme to tackle fuel poverty and free expert energy advice is available to all householders in Wales via the Nest helpline.