Fuel Poverty Set To Break The 50% Barrier In Parts Of Scotland

12th July 2022

Energy Action Scotland published this article in March 2022. Things have gotten significantly worse since then but it does set out the problems

April's energy price rises will see more than 40% of households in large parts of Scotland move into fuel poverty.

Revised figures announced by the Scottish Government show that a further 211,000 households are likely to be living in fuel poverty in the coming months, an increase of 43% on 2019 figures.

Modelling done by fuel poverty campaigners Energy Action Scotland show 57% of people living in the Western Isles will soon be spending more than 10% of their income on energy - after housing costs have been deducted - the official definition of being fuel poor.

A further 11 local authority areas will see more than two in every five homes moving into official fuel poverty.

‘These price increases will move significant proportions of our communities into official fuel poor status. On average 38% of households across the country will no longer be able to afford to heat their home adequately,’ said Energy Action Scotland’s, chief executive, Frazer Scott.

‘Although moves by governments in Scotland and Westminster to alleviate these price rises are welcome, they go nowhere near far enough.’

Energy Action Scotland is urging the UK government to tax the excessive profits being made by oil and gas giants and to cut VAT on energy bills, redistribute the VAT windfall already received to help those with the lowest incomes and consider radical reforms to ensure that vulnerable fuel poor households are protected. The UK Government will tax average dual fuel households an extra £44 through higher VAT receipts. Heaping taxes upon those that can least afford to pay them.

‘We estimated that 100,000 more households would seriously struggle to heat their homes after these price rises, unfortunately it would see this was a vast underestimate of the extent of the problem. We urgently need government action to improve the energy efficiency of homes, particularly targeted at households that suffer the greatest rates of fuel poverty. This would ensure help is being given to those that need it the most,’ said Frazer.

Industry analysts have warned that continued volatility in wholesale energy markets could push average household energy bills up by more than £700 to £2,000 a year from April.

‘Continued inaction will cost lives. Over 2000 more people die in winter when cold damp homes reduce health and wellbeing more than they do in summer. According to the World Health Organisation around 1 in 3 of these deaths are directly attributable to living in fuel poverty. These deaths are avoidable but look set to rise as prices rocket’ he added.