A THIRD of homes in Scotland are living in fuel poverty, according to new statistics.
Figures published by the Scottish Government on Tuesday show an estimated 861,000 households (34%) were in fuel poverty in 2023.
This has increased from the 2022 fuel poverty rate of 31%, or around 780,000 households.
Of the 34% of households living in fuel poverty, 19.4% were living in extreme fuel poverty in 2023.
Meanwhile, 18% of all households found that their heating keeps them warm enough in winter only sometimes, while 6% said they felt it never keeps them warm.
Scottish environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth Scotland said the latest statistics show “the scale of the harm caused” by fossil fuel giants.
Campaigners called on the Scottish Government to deliver on improvements to people’s homes, while also moving to a transition towards renewable energy.
Freya Aitchison, oil and gas campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Cold homes are killing people and ruining lives.
“As fossil fuel companies were extracting tens of billions in profits from the price crisis, tens of thousands more households in Scotland were pushed into fuel poverty.
“SSE wants to burn expensive gas to generate electricity at Peterhead for another 35 years, trapping people in the same rigged system that benefits them and is dictated by volatile gas markets far beyond our control.
“The Scottish Government has been far too slow to deliver the improvements to people's homes which will improve health, cut bills and cut emissions.
“We need a rapid and fair transition to publicly owned renewable energy, which is already cheaper than fossil fuels, because the longer we are delayed, the more our energy bills skyrocket and the greater danger we are all in.”
Responding to the latest statistics, Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: “We continue to support vulnerable households within our limited devolved powers, including through our energy efficiency delivery programmes – Warmer Homes Scotland and Area Based Schemes.”
McLennan added that the Scottish Government had recently announced additional funding worth £41 million to tackle fuel poverty, including £20m through the Scottish Welfare Fund and an increase of £20m to the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme.
He said the increased funding would help around 1500 additional households save an average of £400 per year on their heating bills.
However, McLennan added that the powers to “make a real difference remain with the UK Government”.
He called on the UK Government to introduce a social tariff for energy bills as proposed by the Scottish Government.
McLennan continued: “However, the levers to make a real difference remain with the UK Government. We continue to urge the UK Government to introduce a social tariff mechanism which is the best way to ensure that energy consumers are protected against high costs and can afford all of their energy needs.
“We take the safety of tenants very seriously and are committed to tackling disrepair in housing, and ensuring good maintenance is given a high priority.
“We are working with local authorities and other housing providers to ensure people live in warm, dry and safe homes.
“The number of homes failing the Scottish Housing Quality Standard has reduced from 60% in 2010 to 38% in 2023.”
