Guidance

Fuel poverty statistics methodology handbooks

Guides to the fuel poverty statistics series, for both the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) and the Low Income High Costs (LIHC) indicators.

• From: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
• Published: 30 June 2016
• Last updated: 7 August 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 7 August 2026

     The fuel poverty methodology handbook 2026 was republished to correct the description of the median affordability indicator.

  2. 26 March 2026

     Added the Fuel poverty methodology handbook 2026.

  3. 27 March 2025

     Added Fuel poverty methodology handbook 2025.

  4. 15 February 2024

     Added Fuel poverty methodology handbook 2024.

  5. 28 February 2023

     Fuel poverty methodology handbook updated alongside 2023 fuel poverty statistics publication.

  6. 24 February 2022

     Fuel poverty statistics methodology handbook for the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) indicator updated alongside the publication of the 2022 Fuel Poverty Statistics Report and accompanying 2020 data.

  7. 29 April 2021

     Fuel poverty statistics methodology handbook 2021 (LILEE) updated with section on projections methodology.

  8. 4 March 2021

     Fuel poverty statistics methodology handbook 2021 for the new Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) indicator added. The 2020 handbook based on the previous Low Income, High Costs (LIHC) indicator has been updated.

  9. 30 April 2020

     2020 version of Fuel Poverty Methodology handbook added.

  10. 13 June 2019

      Methodology note updated with publication of Fuel Poverty stats 2019.

  11. 26 June 2018

      2018 Fuel poverty methodology handbook published

  12. 29 June 2017

      2017 methodology handbook published.

  13. 30 June 2016

      First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Fuel poverty methodology handbook 2026: Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE)

PDF, 1.52 MB, 113 pages

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Fuel poverty methodology handbook 2020: Low Income High Costs (LIHC)

PDF, 2.08 MB, 85 pages

Details

Update: 7 August 2026

The fuel poverty methodology handbook 2026 was republished to correct the description of the median affordability indicator.

These handbooks provide guidance on the use of the fuel poverty statistics under both the current Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) indicator, and the previous Low Income High Costs (LIHC) indicator. They describe the methodology used to calculate the fuel poverty figures for England and provide an outline of the available data:

• the 2026 LILEE handbook covers the 2024 and 2025 fuel poverty figures for England
• the LIHC handbook covers the official 2018 fuel poverty figures for England, the last official fuel poverty estimates produced on this basis

Contact us

If you have questions about these statistics, please email: fuelpoverty@energysecurity.gov.uk.