MORE than a third of Scottish households are languishing in fuel poverty, National Energy Action (NEA) warned today.
A survey carried out by the charity on fuel poverty across Britain found that Scottish homes fared worst, with the three parliamentary constituencies facing the largest bill rises all being in Scotland.
The poll found that over the last three months, 49 per cent of British adults had turned their heating down despite temperatures falling, 43 per cent had gone to bed in an effort to stay warm, and 41 per cent of people on pre-payment meters had self-disconnected in an effort to cut costs.
NEA also found a staggering 34 per cent of Scottish households –more than 850,000 – were in fuel poverty, while 22 per cent lived in extreme fuel poverty, spending 20 per cent of their income on fuel.
End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator Simon Francis urged the government to take action.
“The real life impact of decisions made in Westminster are now clear to see,” he said.
“Vulnerable households, including young families and expectant mothers, are now struggling because of ministers’ failure to provide emergency financial assistance this winter.”
Fuel Poverty Action’s Lucia Harrington said: “It is a disgrace that over a fifth of households in Scotland are living in extreme fuel poverty.
“Self-disconnections are a product of an unjust energy system which does not meet people’s needs.
“No-one would cut themselves off from their heating supply if their energy were affordable.
“We can’t let the cost-of-living crisis become normalised as energy firms make billions.
“We need energy in the hands of the people, not private companies; we could have free energy to cover everyone’s essential needs, but we need to keep fighting for it, and that’s why Fuel Poverty Action has taken to the streets this winter.”
Fuel Poverty Action has partnered with Unite for co-ordinated demonstrations across Britain tomorrow, including at the Glasgow HQ of Scottish Power at 11am and at Easterhouse’s Platform Cafe from 12pm. Other demos will take place in Bradford, Leeds, London, Manchester, Chesterfield, Bromley, Bristol, Northampton and Corby (see fuelpovertyaction.org.uk for details).
The action is part of their Energy for All campaign to end force-fitting of pre-payment meters and for safe, warm spaces to be made available to all who will need them this winter.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “No-one should live in fuel poverty.
“But because of the greed of the energy profiteers over the last two years, millions of people have faced crippling bills.”
A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said:“We’re providing targeted support to the most vulnerable this winter – 3 million households are expected to benefit from our £150 Warm Home Discount and millions will receive up to £900 in further Cost of Living Payments.”
