More households hit by fuel poverty

Fuel poverty is forecast to rise and could affect average households from this year, a Scottish Government report has warned.

Figures for 2010 showed there were 658,000 households who were classed as being in fuel poverty – meaning they have to spend more than 10 per cent of their income on energy.

That is down from the previous year’s total of 766,000. However, the Fuel Poverty Evidence Review, which looked at the issue across the country, estimated this would increase by 7 per cent in 2011 to more than 800,000.

While the actual figures for fuel poverty in 2011 are not available until later this year, the report stated: “Fuel poverty projections for 2011, based on modelled data, estimate a rise of 7 per cent from 2010 figures.

“It is projected that over 800,000 Scottish households (35 per cent) were fuel poor in 2011.”