Basic energy efficiency measures have prevented up to 35,000 Scottish households from falling into fuel poverty over the past year, according to the Scottish government.
Statistics released today show that the installation of measures such as loft and cavity insulation, double glazing and new boilers have helped to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and cut household energy requirements.
In spite of efforts by the Scottish Government to help reduce household energy bills, tens of thousands of families were pushed into fuel poverty in 2011 as a direct result of energy company price rises. Between July and October 2011, more than 102,000 households fell into this category after energy prices increased by 14%.
Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said: “Basic energy efficiency measures can make a huge difference to Scottish families who are struggling to make ends meet, allowing them to heat their homes more cost effectively.
“This government has allocated over £68 million in 2012-13 to energy efficiency and fuel poverty programmes to help individuals and families who are in most need of support. We also have in place a cashback voucher scheme offering up to £500 per household for energy efficiency measures such as double glazing and loft and cavity wall insulation, and from today, energy efficient boilers and appliances for private sector landlords.
“Rising energy bills are a huge concern for this government, and fuel poverty is an absolute scandal in an energy rich country like Scotland. The more that energy companies continue to implement punishing price increases, the more they are undoing the good work we are doing to tackle fuel poverty. That is why we are urging the UK government – who has responsibility in this area – to do more to help vulnerable people and ensure that our households are better protected.”
However the Scottish Greens believe the government should be doing a lot more to address the problem, and they are calling on ministers to stop hand-wringing on the worsening issue of fuel poverty. The Scottish Greens say the National Retrofit Programme to insulate homes – first proposed by the party in 2009 – needs to be increased from the current £65million a year to at least £100 million to make a real difference.
Green MSP for Lothian and Holyrood energy committee member Alison Johnstone said:
“Scottish Greens have long argued for extra money focused on rapid upgrading of peoples’ homes. For SNP ministers to suggest this issue is worsening despite their efforts hides the fact that they could do much more.
“With thousands more homes in fuel poverty, the Scottish Government must be more ambitious. Wringing hands about Westminster’s failure to tackle the Big Six energy companies isn’t good enough.”
The Scottish Government’s latest figures show that recent energy price rises have pushed an extra 26,000 households in Scotland into fuel poverty. Around 29 per cent of Scottish households now spend over 10 per cent of their income on energy bills, and 185,000 of those households spend over 20 per cent.
Commenting on the figures, Norman Kerr, Director of national fuel poverty charity Energy Action Scotland said: “The fact that more Scottish households are now in fuel poverty is very disappointing but not surprising, as energy prices have gone up and people’s budgets generally are under pressure. Efforts to make homes energy efficient, so that less energy is needed to heat them, are more vital than ever and will clearly have to be increased.
“Our advice to the public is to check out if they are on the best fuel tariff and payment method for their needs, to shop around energy suppliers, and to take up the free or discounted insulation from Scottish Government programmes such as Home Energy Scotland. There is a tendency to think it won’t make a difference, but it does all help at these difficult times.”
Energy Action Scotland is highlighting that the figures released today are for the period to autumn 2011. Using those figures and adding the effects of energy price rises announced in autumn this year, the numbers living in fuel poverty today are more likely to be around 900,000 household (40%). Today’s report states that those on the lowest incomes are hit hardest by the price rises.
