Scots bear hefty fuel poverty toll

One in four households in Scotland was in fuel poverty even before the recent energy bill increases took effect, new research shows.

Scotland has the fourth highest rate of fuel poverty in the UK, according to comparison site uSwitch.com. The highest rate is in Wales, where 32 per cent of households are fuel poor, whereas just 16 per cent of homes in London are affected by fuel poverty (defined as spending more than 10 per cent net income on energy bills).

The highest average bill is in Cardiff, at £1,312 a year, while Edinburgh and Glasgow are just below the UK average of £1,293 a year. The research didn’t take into account the latest price hikes.