Just seven per cent of those classified as fuel poor struggle both financially and find it difficult to heat their homes, according to a new analysis published by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).
The analysis of Scottish Household Survey data, combined with interviews with fuel-poor households by Ipsos Mori, is contained in a new report, entitled Speaking Up: Understanding Fuel Poverty Support Needs’.
The research, which has been published ahead of CAS’ conference in Edinburgh tomorrow (Wednesday), shows that a very small minority of households classed as fuel poor report both struggling financially and having problems keeping their homes heated adequately.
But the report says this finding is ‘somewhat misleading’ because ‘managing financially’ meant ‘very different things to different groups of people’ -with many cutting out essentials like food and travel, and lacking financial resilience when facing unexpected costs that may push them into financial hardship.
The research found that certain types of household are more likely to struggle to heat their homes affordably, including people in rented flats, those in rural homes, younger people and those who use electric heating.
Those living in flats and tenements account for 35 per cent of Scottish households but make up 55 per cent of those struggling financially and 42 per cent of those who find it difficult to heat their home.
It also finds that those most in need of support are those least likely to access it. The report proposes a review of how suppliers make their customers aware of schemes.
CAS Energy spokesman Craig Salter said that the report contained ‘valuable insights’ into fuel poverty north of the border.
He said: “It comes at a crucial time, with fuel poverty rates in Scotland still unacceptably high and energy prices continuing to rise at several times the rate of inflation.
“Positive steps are being taken by the Scottish Government to introduce a more accurate definition of fuel poverty and develop a new strategy to eradicate it. However for this strategy to succeed, it must reflect the real experiences and support needs of those who are actually in fuel poverty.”