There has been a drop in the number of Scots households suffering from fuel poverty – according to the latest official figures published by the Scottish Government.
The new figures show that in 2012 there were 647,000 (27.1%) households in fuel poverty, which compares with the now revised upwards level of 721,000 (30.5%) households in 2011.
Norman Kerr, Director of national fuel poverty charity, Energy Action Scotland, said: “It is rather unexpected that the number of Scottish households in fuel poverty has fallen in these difficult times. Energy prices are rarely out of the news and people’s budgets generally are under pressure.
“The new figures perhaps show that efforts to make homes more energy efficient are working, because less energy is needed to heat them, but it is vital that the Scottish Government and the energy companies do not take the view that ‘the job is done’. “They must realise there is still much to do to eradicate fuel poverty by the target date of 2016.”
Energy Action Scotland said that the figures are time-lagged as they relate to 2012 and therefore may not reflect levels of fuel poverty in Scotland at present.
Fuel poverty is defined as needing to pay more than 10% of household income on fuel bills. The three main factors that impact on fuel poverty are poor energy efficiency of the home, low disposable household income and high domestic energy prices.
Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said: “While these latest figures show a reduction in the number of households living in fuel poverty in 2012, it is an absolute scandal that people are still struggling with this issue in a country as energy-rich as Scotland.