Lancashire has some of the worst areas for energy efficiency in the UK, as news reveals millions of households will pay more for energy than they did last year, despite Ofgem lowering the price cap.  

New research has revealed that Pendle has the worst energy efficiency in Lancashire and the second-worst in the UK, with just 21.8 percent of homes with a ‘good’ EPC (energy efficiency) rating of C or above.

In comparison, Tower Hamlets in London, the UK area with the best energy efficiency, has 76 percent of homes with a ‘good’ EPC rating of C or above.

The research used new Office of National Statistics (ONS) data to assess the energy efficiency (EPC) ratings of 309 UK local authorities, in order to discover which areas have the highest and lowest percentage of energy efficient homes.

Households with EPC ratings of A-C are considered to have good energy efficiency, while households rating D-G have poor energy efficiency, with G being the worst.

The top 10 UK areas with the worst energy efficiency are as follows, reading from left to right: area; percentage of homes with EPC rating C and above

  • Isles of Scilly; 14.1
  • Pendle; 21.8
  • Gwynedd; 23.7
  • Castle Point; 24.8
  • Burnley; 25.1
  • Hyndburn; 25.4
  • Staffordshire Moorlands; 25.6
  • Ceredigion; 26.0
  • Blackpool; 26.5
  • Barrow-in-Furness; 26.7
  • UK average; 42.4

The Lancashire areas with the worst energy efficiency are as follows, reading from left to right: area; percentage of homes with EPC rating C and above

  • Pendle; 21.8
  • Burnley; 25.1
  • Hyndburn; 25.4
  • Blackpool; 26.5
  • Rossendale; 32.3
  • Lancaster; 32.8
  • Blackburn with Darwen; 34.0
  • Wyre; 34.2
  • Fylde; 37.7
  • West Lancashire; 39.6
  • Ribble Valley; 40.7
  • South Ribble; 41.1
  • Preston; 44.1

Burnley is the second-worst place for energy efficiency in Lancashire, and the fifth worst in the UK, with just 25.1 per cent of homes with a ‘good’ EPC rating of C or above, compared to 76.1 percent of homes in the UK’s most energy efficient area, Tower Hamlets.

Hyndburn homes are also likely to suffer from poor energy efficiency, with just 25.4 percent of homes boasting a ‘good’ EPC rating of C or above. Hyndburn has the third-worst energy efficiency in Lancashire, and the sixth worst in the UK.

Blackpool also makes the list of the top-ten worst UK areas for energy efficiency, with just 26.5 percent of homes with a ‘good’ EPC rating of C or above.

A spokesperson for PlumbingNav, which conducted the research said: “It is striking to see the disparity in energy efficiency ratings across the UK, with Lancashire suffering the worst EPC ratings.

“A poor energy efficiency rating is one of the biggest drivers in household energy bills, at a time where few can afford increased costs.

“Despite the energy price cap reduction, the cost of heating still remains cripplingly high for many, and Citizens Advice Bureau has revealed that millions of households will pay more for their energy bills than last year, due to the Cost-of-Living-Crisis leaving them with less money for household bills, and because government subsidies have been removed.

“Homes with poor energy efficiency are likely to suffer from the highest bills this winter, and residents may find it useful to see if they qualify for winter fuel payments or other energy support.”