MORE than half of the homes in the BCP Council area have energy efficiency ratings of B and D or lower, figures reveal.

This comes amid an energy crisis which is likely to see millions of people struggle to heat their homes.

The Government is being urged to make energy efficiency a national priority, after energy regulator Ofgem announced the cap on energy prices will increase by nearly £700 from April.

Energy Performance Certificates show how effective a home is at keeping heat in – with ratings from A (the most efficient) to G – the least, meaning residents have to spend more on energy bills to keep their homes warm.

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Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 56 per cent of dwellings in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had an EPC rating of B and D or below in 2020-21.

This was lower than the average across England, of 58 per cent.

Ofgem announced the energy price cap will rise to a record £1,971 for a typical household as gas prices soar to unprecedented highs.

This 54 per cent increase will affect around 22 million households across Great Britain from the beginning of April, adding £693 to typical annual bills.

In response, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £200 rebate on energy bills, which will have to be paid back, and a £150 reduction in council tax for millions in England.

But the Energy Saving Trust said the price cap rise – alongside higher living costs caused by further inflation – is "extremely worrying".

Mike Thornton, chief executive of the organisation, added: "As well as the need for immediate action and short-term support, the current crisis emphasises the importance of improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock in the long-term.

"Energy efficiency and more renewables are the best ways to protect everybody against volatile gas prices and rising bills in the long-term."

The figures also show the median annual energy cost in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole was an estimated £702 in 2020-21 – below the England average of £731.

Separate figures from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy show an estimated 18,889 households in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole experienced fuel poverty in 2019 – the latest statistics available.

A household is considered to be fuel poor if they live in a property with low energy efficiency and would be pushed below the poverty line by housing costs and the energy bills needed to have a warm, well-lit home.