Within the last decade, Bradford and Leicester saw the highest rates in ECO measures installed in England, new data visualised by Polimapper shows. This coincides with the release of fuel poverty statistics by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
ECO, or Energy Company Obligation, is a government energy efficiency scheme designed to tackle fuel poverty and help reduce carbon emissions by placing a Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation on medium and large energy suppliers.
DESNZ data reveals that between 2013 and 2024, 4.5 million energy efficiency measures were installed in 2.8 million properties in Great Britain. Of these, 80% were accounted for through ECO. In 2024, the scheme delivered 337.8k measures in 62.5k first-time households. This is an increase of 24% from the previous year.
The most common measure installed in 2024 under ECO was ‘Heating Controls’, with 175.6k installations. This was followed by loft insulation, at 49k measures.
The local authorities that saw the highest rates of ECO measures were Bradford and Leicester, which registered 607 and 534 installations per 1k households respectively. Fuel poverty is particularly high in Yorkshire and The Humber, as 14.2% of households in the region are in fuel poverty.
Conversely, ECO measures were lowest in London, particularly in Wandsworth (19 per 1k) and Westminster (22 per 1k). This matches London’s fuel poverty rates, as these are amongst the lowest in the country. Check out the map to see how your area compares.
About this map
The map below shows household energy efficiency statistics, particularly within the ECO scheme, by local authority. The data visualised highlights a divide between southernmost and northernmost regions in the country, mirroring fuel poverty statistics.
To view statistics in your area double click on the map or click here to launch the full page version!
Geodata context
Although ECO instalment rates were particularly high last year, one in 10 households were struggling to pay their energy bills within the same timeframe. This comes as energy prices rose, pushing a further 42k households into fuel poverty.
Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition: “The latest figures show the inadequacy of current fuel poverty monitoring.
“On the one hand it is welcome that official rates of fuel poverty are down – it means that investing in energy efficiency measures such as insulation and heat pumps works.
“But on the other hand, we see the measure which is most sensitive to the rising cost of living creeping up. This shows just how devastating the ongoing cost of living crisis is and what a mistake it was for the Chancellor to axe Winter Fuel Payments.
Jonathan Bean from Fuel Poverty Action: “The latest Government fuel poverty statistics expose the complete failure of Government and Ofgem to tackle the energy affordability and fuel poverty crisis.
“A shocking 36.3% of households in England are unable to afford the inflated energy prices we are forced to pay due to a rigged energy market and obscene profits. Many of us are forced to survive the winter huddled under blankets and go without hot water.