Fuel poverty risk in Merton
LONDON · rank 260 of 296 · data 2024 (published 14 May 2026)
What proportion of households in Merton are in fuel poverty?
As of 2024 (DESNZ, published 14 May 2026), 9.9% of households in Merton were in fuel poverty (8,852 of 89,414 households) — equal to the England average of 9.9%. The Gera Cold Home Risk Index for Merton is 13/100 (low risk; rank 260 of 296). Source: DESNZ, OGL v3.0.
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Households in fuel poverty | 9.9% | 8,852 |
| England average | 9.9% | 8,896 (equiv.) |
| Gera Cold Home Risk Index (GCHRI) | 13/100 | low risk |
| National rank | 260 of 296 | Lower risk half |
| Regional depth-of-gap weight | 0.68 | At or below national avg severity |
Compare with other areas
Pick any English local authority to see its GCHRI
Check cold-home risk for your area
Pick any English local authority to see its real DESNZ fuel poverty rate and Gera Cold Home Risk Index (GCHRI).
GCHRI 13 / 100 — low risk
Merton has 9.9% of households in fuel poverty (DESNZ 2024, LILEE metric) — equal to the England average of 9.9%. Its Gera Cold Home Risk Index of 13/100 accounts for the region's average fuel poverty severity (depth-of-gap weighting).
Areas with a similar cold-home risk to Merton
- MiddlesbroughGCHRI 13 · 9.6%
- BlabyGCHRI 13 · 7.5%
- CroydonGCHRI 13 · 10.0%
- County DurhamGCHRI 14 · 10.0%
Highest risk: Isles of Scilly (GCHRI 100) · Lowest risk: City of London (GCHRI 0).
Frequently asked questions
- How many households in Merton are in fuel poverty?
- In 2024, 8,852 households in Merton were in fuel poverty — 9.9% of the 89,414 total households. This is measured under the Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric, which identifies households with energy efficiency Band D or below whose income after fuel costs falls below the poverty line. Source: DESNZ sub-regional fuel poverty statistics 2026 (2024 data), OGL v3.0.
- Is fuel poverty in Merton above or below the England average?
- Merton's fuel poverty rate of 9.9% is equal to the England average of 9.9% (9.9%). Its Gera Cold Home Risk Index of 13/100 accounts for the regional average depth-of-gap (LONDON: depth weight 0.68 vs national). A higher depth weight means fuel-poor households face a larger average financial shortfall, not just a higher number. Source: DESNZ, OGL v3.0.
- What is Merton's Gera Cold Home Risk Index?
- Merton has a Gera Cold Home Risk Index of 13/100 — low risk, ranking 260 of 296 English local authorities (1 = highest risk). The GCHRI = normalised(% in fuel poverty × regional depth-of-gap weight). London has a depth weight of 0.68 versus the England average of 1.00, reflecting the typical severity of fuel poverty in the region. Source: DESNZ 2024 data; Gera computation.
- What help is available for households in fuel poverty in Merton?
- Households in fuel poverty may be eligible for: the Warm Home Discount (electricity bill discount from suppliers), ECO4 (free insulation and heating upgrades through energy suppliers), the Great British Insulation Scheme, and Cold Weather Payments. Local authorities in London may also offer council-funded energy-efficiency grants. GeraHome can connect you with local insulation and boiler-upgrade professionals.
- What is the LILEE fuel poverty metric?
- The Low Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) metric replaced the previous 10% rule in 2021. A household is fuel-poor if its dwelling has energy efficiency Band D or below, and spending the modelled amount to heat it to a minimum standard would push the household's residual income below the poverty line. LILEE better targets households that would benefit most from energy-efficiency improvements and avoids the previous metric's sensitivity to fuel prices.
Cut cold-home risk in Merton
Insulation, draught-proofing, boiler servicing, and heating upgrades can lift an energy efficiency rating and remove a household from fuel poverty. GeraHome connects you with vetted local professionals.
Contains public sector information published by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DESNZ Sub-regional Fuel Poverty Statistics 2026 (2024 data) (2024 (published 14 May 2026), published 14 May 2026).