New figures reveal that 34% of households in Scotland are facing fuel poverty, a significant rise from last year.
Edinburgh: Recent data from the Scottish Government shows that 861,000 households are in fuel poverty. That’s about 34% of homes in Scotland. This number has gone up from 31% last year, which was around 780,000 households.
Among those in fuel poverty, 19.4% are in extreme fuel poverty. Many households struggle to keep warm in winter. About 18% say their heating only works sometimes, and 6% feel it never keeps them warm.
Friends of the Earth Scotland highlights the harm caused by fossil fuel companies. They urge the Scottish Government to improve homes and shift to renewable energy.
Freya Aitchison, a campaigner, emphasizes that cold homes are dangerous. She points out that while fossil fuel companies profit, more households fall into fuel poverty.
Aitchison criticizes SSE for wanting to use expensive gas for electricity for another 35 years. She believes this keeps people trapped in a flawed system.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan responds to the statistics. He mentions support for vulnerable households through energy efficiency programs like Warmer Homes Scotland.
McLennan also announces £41 million in new funding to fight fuel poverty. This includes £20 million from the Scottish Welfare Fund and an increase for Warmer Homes Scotland.
He says this funding could help 1,500 more households save about £400 a year on heating bills. However, he notes that real change depends on the UK Government.
McLennan calls for a social tariff for energy bills to protect consumers from high costs. He stresses the importance of safe and well-maintained homes.
He adds that the number of homes failing the Scottish Housing Quality Standard has dropped from 60% in 2010 to 38% in 2023.
