Scottish House Condition Survey Local Authority Tables 2022-2024

Extreme Fuel Poverty

Extreme fuel poverty follows the same definition as fuel poverty except that a household would have to spend more than 20% of its adjusted net income (after housing costs) on total fuel costs to maintain a satisfactory heating regime.

In the period 2022-2024, the extreme fuel poverty rate varied from 10% in East Dunbartonshire to 34% in Orkney Islands compared to the average in Scotland of 17% (Figure 6). Seven local authorities had significantly higher extreme fuel poverty rates than the national average, these were: Orkney Islands (34%), Shetland Islands (29%), Aberdeenshire (27%), Na h-Eileanan Siar (27%), Dumfries & Galloway (24%), West Dunbartonshire (24%) and Dundee City (23%). All of these local authorities except Dundee City and West Dunbartonshire had a greater prevalence than average of lower energy efficient properties (those rated EPC F or G; Figure 3)[1].

Five local authorities had significantly lower extreme fuel poverty rates than the national average, these were: East Dunbartonshire (10%), East Lothian (12%), City of Edinburgh (12%), Renfrewshire (12%) and Stirling (12%).  Renfrewshire, and Edinburgh have a lower prevalence of low energy efficient homes (those rated F or G; Figure 3) compared to the national average. East Lothian and Stirling have a similar prevalence of lower energy efficient homes compared to the national average.

On average across 2022-2024, 17% of dwellings were in extreme fuel poverty.

Figure 6: Percent Dwellings in Extreme Fuel Poverty by local authority, compared to Scotland average. SHCS 2022-2024. [Note 1]