Tackling Fuel Poverty in Scotland: periodic report 2021-2024

Section 2: At a glance summaries

The following section provides a series of ‘at a glance’ tables providing a summary overview of activity over a 3-year period from end 2021, with fuel poverty strategic actions and other key information.

This section provides an overview of our 10 strategic priority actions within the Strategy and a high-level status of each of the 55 actions. This is accompanied by a short narrative for some of the actions which are not currently captured or reported upon within the Fuel Poverty Strategy.

Table 1.1 and 1.2 outlines Scottish Government spend across 2022-2024, helping to contribute to the fuel poverty targets.

Progress with strategic priority actions

Priority Actions within the Fuel Poverty Strategy

The Fuel Poverty Strategy outlines 10 strategic priority actions as the long-term framework towards our 2040 statutory targets, with 55 specific actions underpinned by these key areas of focus, which sit across areas of the Scottish Government, and call upon the UK Government to use their fundamental policy and fiscal levers.

Priority Action 1: We will keep evidence, including lived experience, at the heart of our approach and we will work with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel to build our understanding of how people in fuel poverty with different protected characteristics use energy in the home to ensure our approach promotes equality of outcomes, including a specific focus on the experience of Gypsy/Traveller communities.

Summary Status: Since their establishment in 2022, we have and continue to engage and work closely with our statutory, independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, driven by their mission to eradicate fuel poverty and increase resilience by engaging with people with lived experience and those who support them. In addition, Energy Action Scotland as the sole national charity campaigning to end fuel poverty and long-term Scottish Government funded partner have completed work into the protected characteristics of those within fuel poverty.

Priority Action 2: We will maximise the benefit of our heat in buildings capital investment programmes through measures that support a reduction in fuel poverty – integrating learning on new technologies, as appropriate.

Summary Status: There is an unwavering commitment to tackle the climate crisis and to reach net zero by 2045, including by transforming heating systems and improving the energy efficiency of buildings. We have allocated £1.3 billion of funding through our Heat in Buildings schemes this Parliamentary Session (excluding 2025/26), committing spend of over £575 million for energy efficiency and clean projects. The demand for our schemes has risen in recent years with a generous package of support for households looking to move to clean heat.

Priority Action 3: We will drive up energy efficiency standards in all tenures through regulation, delivering a new Housing Standard and a review of energy efficiency standards in social housing – ensuring our approach maximises the impact on fuel poverty.

Summary Status: In November 2023, we consulted on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill including a minimum energy efficiency standard for privately-owned homes. The consultation also sought views on proposals to prohibit the use of polluting heating systems, like gas boilers, in all privately owned and non-domestic properties after 2045, and to require some building owners to do so earlier than 2045.

At the time of publication, we are currently considering the responses to this consultation and will confirm our decisions on next steps for the Bill as soon as practicable.

Priority Action 4: We will demand action from the UK Government to change their approach to the operation of energy markets to provide effective, flexible support for fuel poor households.

Summary Status: The Scottish Government believes that a social tariff mechanism is the best way to ensure that energy consumers are protected against high costs and can afford all of their energy needs. We repeatedly called on the previous UK Government to introduce a social tariff mechanism as a means of targeted support for those who need it most and are pleased to be having more constructive discussions with the new administration on delivering this crucial policy. We established a social tariff working group in November 2024, bringing together stakeholders to co-design a deliverable policy, and have shared the groups final report and recommendations with the UK Government in March 2025. The powers to implement a social tariff remain with the UK Government.

We are also clear that the current wholesale electricity market is not fit for the delivery of our net zero ambitions, nor our aims to tackle fuel poverty. The UK Government must ensure that wholesale market reforms progressed through their Review of Electricity Market Arrangements deliver reduced costs for consumers and we will continue to engage with UK Government to ensure the interests of Scottish consumers are represented.

Priority Action 5: We will ensure that all households in fuel poverty have access to high quality, impactful advice.

Summary Status: We have continued to invest in frontline advice services through Home Energy Scotland, Advice Direct Scotland and Stepchange. This collective support is ensuring those most in need of energy advice and energy efficiency improvements and those facing energy or wider debt are able to access the help they need.

Priority Action 6: We will ensure targeted support for those unable to afford the energy they need, those who need greater warmth, and those facing specific barriers to getting out of fuel poverty.

Summary Status: Since the launch of the first Warmer Homes Scotland scheme in 2015, the scheme has invested around £289 million and helped over 40,000 households across Scotland to live in warmer, healthier homes which are more affordable to heat through both phases of the scheme.

Our local authority Area Based Schemes: designed and delivered by councils with Scottish Government investment, target fuel-poor areas to provide energy efficiency measures with the aim of helping to reduce energy bills, make homes warmer and reduce emissions.

Priority Action 7: We will work with local authorities to ensure effective, local action to tackle fuel poverty across Scotland.

Summary Status: Refreshed Local Housing Strategy (LHS) guidance will be published in 2025 and will ensure appropriate links are made between fuel poverty, energy efficiency, achieving heat decarbonisation and climate change.

The Scottish Government has in place a robust process to review all LHS, to provide constructive feedback to local authorities on the content of LHSs submitted for review.

The Scottish Government is providing on-going financial support to local authorities to support them to continue to develop and deliver their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies (LHEES).

An evaluation of the process of local authorities developing their first LHEES is currently being carried out, the outputs of this evaluation will inform the development of the next iteration due in 2028.

Priority Action 8: In collaboration with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, we will develop an effective outcomes-focused monitoring and evaluation framework for this strategy.

Summary Status: As part of a structured development process, with input from the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, we have progressed the development of an outcomes-focused Theory of Change for the Fuel Poverty Strategy actions, and identification of existing evidence.

Priority Action 9: We will continue to take action to raise household incomes and reduce household costs for those in poverty.

Summary Status: Best Start, Bright Futures sets out wide ranging action focused on increasing earned incomes, reducing the cost of living, and maximising incomes from social security and benefits in kind – including through investment in support which is not available elsewhere in the UK, such as the Scottish Child Payment. The Scottish Government has outlined progress in the implementation of actions and toward the child poverty targets through annual progress reports. An annual progress report for the period 2024-25 will be published by the end of June 2025.

Priority Action 10: We will tackle the stigma of fuel poverty, working closely with communities and partners working with people living in fuel poverty.

Summary Status: Our statutory, independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel has and continues to undertake engagement with people with lived experience of fuel poverty. We will continue to learn from their experiences, and from the organisations who work with priority households, to support households in fuel poverty and inform policy decisions.

Progress towards actions within the Fuel Poverty Strategy – 2021-2024

The section below provides an at a glance update on the status of all 55 actions in the Fuel Poverty Strategy. This also summarises how each action helps contribute to efforts in tackling fuel poverty, however this is a basic summary which does not account for the interlinks between fuel poverty drivers or the role actions can play across multiple drivers. Actions that are classified as an enabling action below are those that are intended to help overcome potential barriers to achieving outputs and outcomes.

Action 1 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): Working with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, we will explore the opportunities to carry out further lived experience research and build on our existing evidence base.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Understanding Fuel Poverty	Research	Enabler	In progress

Action 2 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will consult with people with lived experience of fuel poverty when making any new regulations under the Fuel Poverty Act.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Understanding Fuel Poverty	Consultation	Enabler	N/A

Action 3 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to invest in Warmer Homes Scotland and our Area Based Schemes to maximise the number of households in fuel poverty achieving a level of energy efficiency equivalent to EPC C by 2030 and EPC B by 2040.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Poor Energy Efficiency	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 4 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): Over the next five years, we will deliver an increasing number of ‘whole house’ retrofits to fuel poor households and will adopt a ‘zero emissions first’ approach.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Poor Energy Efficiency	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 5 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will explore how to better identify potential projects and increase take up by fuel poor households for our Area Based Schemes.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Enabler	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 6 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to provide funded support to households in fuel poverty, helping them to install energy efficiency measures through Warmer Homes Scotland, the scheme that replaces it, and our Area Based Schemes.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Poor Energy Efficiency	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 7 (As set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): Those in fuel poverty will continue to be supported as one of the key priorities within appropriate schemes of our Heat in Buildings programme.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Poor Energy Efficiency	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 8 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): In 2022, we will undertake research with members of the Gypsy/Traveller community who have lived experience of fuel poverty to better understand how we can reflect their needs in Warmer Homes Scotland, the scheme that replaces it, and our Area Based Schemes.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Enabler	Paused

Action 9 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will ensure that the replacement scheme for Warmer Homes Scotland continues to provide support to those fuel poor households who face the greatest health risks of staying in a cold home.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Poor Energy Efficiency	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 10 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to provide enabling measures, such as assistance with loft clearances, asbestos removal, the installation of fuel storage tanks and the removal of failed cavity wall insulation, to help facilitate energy efficiency improvements.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Poor Energy Efficiency	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 11 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): Working with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, we will seek to ensure that eligibility criteria for our Area Based Schemes and the new scheme to replace Warmer Homes Scotland, are aligned with the updated fuel poverty definition and continue to target assistance to those that need it most.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Enabler	In progress

Action 12 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will explore the development of a fuel poverty assessment tool.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Enabler	Paused

Action 13 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will apply the learnings from projects funded by the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund or undertaken as part of ABS Special Projects that seek to improve the energy efficiency of Gypsy/Traveller accommodation to Warmer Homes Scotland, the scheme that replaces it, and our Area Based Schemes.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Enabler	In progress

Action 14 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to monitor whether our investment helps households to maintain an adequate indoor temperature and will supplement this with increased qualitative feedback from the households we support.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Enabler	Early stages of development

Action 15 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will seek to identify Social Housing Net Zero Fund projects which have been successful in reducing energy bills for those in fuel poverty and share the learning with the wider social housing sector as well as applying it to Warmer Homes Scotland, the scheme that replaces it, and our Area Based Schemes.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Heat in Buildings programmes	Enabler	In progress

Action 16 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will work with Historic Environment Scotland to consider what further specific provisions or exemptions may be needed within regulations in meeting requirements for decarbonisation of their heat supply and reducing their demand for heat.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Enabler	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 17 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will consult on a regulatory approach for mixed-tenure buildings which would see them required to reach a good level of energy efficiency, equivalent to EPC C, where technically feasible and cost effective, and install a zero-emissions heating supply.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Enabler	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 18 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will introduce regulations requiring private rented sector properties to meet a minimum standard equivalent to EPC C, where technically feasible and cost-effective, by 2028.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Poor Energy Efficiency	In progress

Action 19 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will regulate for all buildings across all tenures to achieve a good level of energy efficiency by 2033 and use zero emissions heating (and cooling) by 2045, where within our legal competence.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Poor Energy Efficiency	In progress

Action 20 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will reform the existing EPC assessment process so that it includes three indicators so that it is compatible with both our fuel poverty and our climate change targets.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Poor Energy Efficiency	In progress

Action 21 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will introduce a new tenure-neutral Housing Standard which will ensure that our homes, both new and existing, achieve the same levels of energy efficiency.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Poor Energy Efficiency	Paused

Action 22 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will work with social housing stakeholders to respond to the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce report and recommendations and bring forward the review of EESSH2 as quickly as possible.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Enabler	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 23 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will introduce new energy standards for new homes in 2021 and 2024, taking into account the responses to our consultation.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Regulations and standards	Poor Energy Efficiency	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 24 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will work with local authority partners and wider stakeholders to introduce LHEES for all local authority areas by the end of 2023.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Strategic approach	Poor Energy Efficiency	In progress

Action 25 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We urge the UK Government to review levy funding for the Energy Company Obligation and the Warm Homes Discount and work with Scottish Ministers so that these can be combined as a single, flexible Scottish Fuel Poverty scheme, as provided for in the Scotland Act.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making Homes Warmer and Cheaper to Heat	Strategic approach	Poor Energy Efficiency	In progress

Action 26 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We urge the UK Government to rebalance environmental and social obligation costs (levies) on energy bills to reduce the premium that is paid for by customers who use electric heating.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Levies	High Energy Prices	Early stages of development

Action 27 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We published our research into the impacts of rebalancing levies and charges on electricity and gas supplies alongside our Heat in Buildings Strategy and we will further consider the potential options for reviewing levies and the impacts these may have on fuel poor households.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Levies	Enabler	Early stages of development

Action 28 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to press for customers with pre-payment meters to access similar tariffs to direct debit customers.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Tariffs	High Energy Prices	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 29 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): Ensure our lived experience research with fuel poor Gypsy/Travellers includes examination of energy prices on some local authority sites with a view to better understanding the particular challenges facing Gypsy/Traveller communities.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Tariffs	Enabler	Early stages of development

Action 30 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of new technologies in demonstration projects and incorporate the learning into our delivery schemes to maximise the benefit for fuel poor households.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Renewable and storage technologies	Enabler	In progress

Action 31 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will act on the evidence from current research to understand the cost effectiveness of thermal, electrical storage and rooftop solar photovoltaics to support households to reduce bills. Where this proves effective we will consider support for them through Warmer Homes Scotland, the scheme that replaces it, and our Area Based Schemes.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Renewable and storage technologies	Enabler	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 32 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will ask Consumer Scotland to consider tracking the impact of decarbonisation on households as part of their future workplan.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Promoting consumer engagement	Enabler	In progress

Action 33 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to work with BEIS, Ofgem, Smart Energy GB and the wider energy market to ensure Scottish consumers are considered and can access the benefits of smart meters as the roll out continues, particularly representing the interests of those at highest risk of fuel poverty.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Improving Access to Affordable Energy	Promoting consumer engagement	Energy Usage in the Home	In progress

Action 34 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): Working with the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, we will explore opportunities to carry out further research to understand how people in fuel poverty with different protected characteristics use energy in the home to ensure our approach promotes equality of outcomes.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Making it Easier to Use Energy Effectively	Research	Enabler	In progress

Action 35 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will share the learning of the Financial Inclusion Universal Pathway Quality Improvement Collaborative to strengthen partnership working between income maximisation services and health settings.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Improving the social security system	Enabler	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 36 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will explore how data sharing could enhance support from Home Energy Scotland to provide fuel poor households with a benefits check.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Improving the social security system	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 37 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We urge the UK Government to reconsider its decision to cut Universal Credit by £20-per-week.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Improving the social security system	Low Household Income	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 38 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will explore how a Minimum Income Guarantee could offer those on low incomes safety, security and dignity, which will impact on fuel poverty by raising the level of income available to households to meet their reasonable energy needs

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Improving the social security system	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 39 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We urge the UK Government to review levy funding for the Energy Company Obligation and the Warm Homes Discount and work with Scottish Ministers so that these can be combined as a single, flexible Scottish Fuel Poverty scheme, as provided for in the Scotland Act [Also covered under Strategic Approach theme of Poor Energy Efficiency].

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Providing financial support	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 40 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will deliver our replacement benefit for Winter Fuel Payment on a like-for-like basis.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Providing financial support	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 41 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will replace the Cold Weather Payment with a new annual payment of £50 for all low-income households who are currently eligible to receive the Cold Weather Payment during cold spells, providing greater certainty and consistency for around 400,000 people in Scotland.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Providing financial support	Low Household Income	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 42 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will double the value of the Scottish Child Payment to £80 every four weeks from April 2022.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Providing financial support	Low Household Income	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 43 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will expand universal free school meal provision in primary schools and special schools and deliver alternate free school meal support for all eligible in holiday periods

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Reducing Household Costs	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 44 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will deliver 110,000 energy efficient, affordable homes by 2032 – at least 70% of which will be in the social rented sector and 10% in our remote, rural and island communities – which will ensure homes are affordable as well as warmer and cheaper to heat.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Reducing Household Costs	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 45 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will produce a Rented Sector Strategy and include any legislative aspects in a Housing Bill in this parliamentary term which will support renters in ensuring their housing costs are affordable and levels of fuel poverty in the rented sector are reduced.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Reducing Household Costs	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 46 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will provide free bus travel to all young people aged 21 and under, which will impact on fuel poverty by ensuring household incomes can be used to meet reasonable energy needs.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Reducing Household Costs	Low Household Income	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 47 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to mitigate the bedroom tax until such times as we are able to abolish it, which will impact on fuel poverty by ensuring household incomes can be used to meet reasonable energy needs.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Reducing Household Costs	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 48 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to roll out a Fair Work First approach across the public sector, which will help ensure households have adequate levels of income to meet their reasonable energy needs.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Increasing income from employment	Low Household Income	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 49 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to encourage more employers in Scotland to pay the real Living Wage, which will help ensure households have adequate levels of income to meet their reasonable energy needs

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Increasing income from employment	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 50 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to encourage more employers in Scotland to achieve Living Hours Accreditation, which will help to ensure households have adequate levels of income to meet their reasonable energy needs.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Raising Household Incomes	Increasing income from employment	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 51 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to fund Home Energy Scotland to provide advice and support on how to reduce energy bills and make homes warmer and cheaper to heat.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Advice and Support	Delivery Schemes	Energy Usage in the Home	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 52 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will continue to work together to develop effective referral routes between Home Energy Scotland and Social Security Scotland and share best practice to ensure fuel poor households are getting full access to the support to which they may be entitled.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Partnership Working	Social Security	Low Household Income	In progress

Action 53 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will work with key stakeholders, including local authorities, COSLA, and the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel to develop an outcomes framework that we will publish in 2022.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Monitoring and Reporting	Measuring Outcomes	Enabler	In progress

Action 54 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): Working with key partners, including the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, we will develop a reporting format that will set out the progress we have made in reaching the fuel poverty targets. We will report every three years, with the final report being published no later than 2042.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Monitoring and Reporting	Reporting	Enabler	Delivered [Being delivered at scale / completed]

Action 55 (as set out in the Fuel Poverty Strategy): We will keep this Strategy under review and will revise it at least every 5 years, with the first review taking place no later than 2026.

Theme	Sub-theme	Expected contribution to fuel poverty driver	Status
Monitoring and Reporting	Review	Enabler	In progress

Further progress beyond the Fuel Poverty Strategy

In addition to the actions outlined above, we have continued to take action within housing to contribute to tackling climate change by 2045 by delivering homes that are warm and affordable to heat.

Housing to 2040 was designed to sit alongside the Heat in Buildings Strategy, with both working together to deliver our statutory targets for climate change and fuel poverty, and the milestones in between, in a fair and just way.

Housing Standards

Recent changes have been made to the Repairing Standard (RS) to improve the condition of private rented property. The updated Repairing Standard aims to improve the condition of private rented property, make homes safer and ensure greater consistency between the social and private rented sectors. The Repairing Standard guidance incorporates all the elements of the Repairing Standard which private landlords are required to comply with from 1 March 2024. The guidance was published in March 2023 to provide private landlords with a clear understanding of what is already expected, what is new and expected of them from 2024 and what will be coming into force later.

The new regulations:

• clarify existing rules on the Tolerable Standard (TS) and responsibilities for repairs to common parts and holiday lets; these came into force on 1 March 2019;
• remove fire and smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors from the Repairing Standard because this becomes part of the Tolerable Standard and applies to all homes; this came into force on 1 February 2022
• add elements to the RS, requiring safe kitchens, fixed heating systems, safe access and use of common facilities, secure common doors, and residual current devices; these will come into force on 1 March 2024; and
• mean that tenancies on agricultural holdings will be subject to the RS; this comes into effect from 28 March 2027.

In October 2024 a decision was taken to pause the work on the tenure-neutral housing standards and to also delay the public consultation we had planned for 2025.

This was in light of a housing emergency being declared in May 2024. Through engagement with stakeholders, we recognised that there was a need to defer some pieces of work in order to ensure there was capacity to deliver on the housing emergency workplan. Whilst this work has been paused, we are continuing to progress housing quality work that does not need new legislation, such as a review of the Home Report and consideration of aspects of our tenement maintenance work plan.

Building Standards

The most recent improvement to energy standards for new homes was introduced in February 2023. This followed consultation on improvements during 2021. The implemented standards were intended to deliver an aggregate reduction in emissions from new homes of approximately 32% compared to the previous 2015 standards, with a broadly similar reduction in energy demand and therefore fuel bills.

Whilst improvement to energy and environmental standards set though building regulations reduce energy demand and therefore comparative running costs for new homes, this also increases the capital cost of delivery of new homes, thus impacting on broader affordability. This impact is set out in the cost/benefit analysis research and impact assessment supporting each review.

In December 2022, in response to a Members Bill proposal by Alex Rowley MSP, Ministers committed to investigate the delivery of a Scottish equivalent to the Passivhaus standard, to further improve newbuild performance and comfort. Consultation on the principles of such a standard was undertaken in late summer 2024 and small enabling changes to building regulations, necessary to meet the commitment to Parliament, laid in December 2024.

A further consultation on the details of proposed changes to performance targets for newbuild and improvements to supporting compliance processes is scheduled for summer 2025. The intent being to complete the review and publish revised standards, guidance and tools in the first half of 2026 and implement revised standards from early 2028. Information on the review is published at Energy Standards Review – Scottish Passivhaus Equivalent: Working Group - gov.scot.

The New Build Heat Standard (NBHS) was also implemented through building regulations in April 2024, with further amendment in January 2025. We also published a Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment which included the expectation that the higher energy efficiency of new build properties resulting from the NBHS would be consistent with efforts to reduce fuel poverty – although this would depend on a range of factors, including running costs.

Community and Renewable Energy Scheme

Our Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supports communities across Scotland to participate in, and benefit from, the energy transition. The scheme provides advice and funding to communities across Scotland looking to develop renewable energy, heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency projects. Since its inception, CARES has advised over 1200 organisations and provided over £67 million in funding to communities throughout Scotland, supporting over 960 projects and the installation of 63 MW of renewable energy. The CARES ‘Community Buildings Fund’ provided a rolling programme of support to communities, charities, and faith organisations to decarbonise their buildings and reduce energy bills. This support takes a whole building retrofit approach covering energy efficiency measures, zero emissions heat installations, and small-scale generation. We have recently announced £4.5 million will be available through CARES in 25/26 to help communities to decarbonise their buildings, which will build on the support provided through the Community Buildings Fund.

Energy Strategy and Just Transition

In 2023 we consulted on the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan (ESJTP), setting out our vision for a future net zero energy system. Over 1,500 responses were received to the consultation and independent analysis confirmed broad support for our net zero energy vision and level of ambition.

We engaged extensively with stakeholders to support the development of the ESJTP, including with the Just Transition Commission, Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel, the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, business organisations, public bodies and other key stakeholders. Since we published the draft for consultation there have been significant changes in global and UK energy markets. The judgements and issues in the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan are informed and influenced by recent developments in the UK Government’s energy policy and court decisions. This is a rapidly changing landscape and we are taking time to reflect on those developments before drawing any conclusions and publishing any final strategy.

Strategic Spatial Energy Plan

We are committed to working collaboratively with other governments to accelerate progress towards Scotland’s economic and net zero targets. On 20 October 2024, the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments jointly commissioned the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to produce a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain. The plan will set out a long-term view of what energy sources are needed to reach net zero, and their most optimal locations across GB on a zonal basis from 2030 to 2050.

Following constructive engagement with the Scottish Government, NESO has consulted on a draft methodology for the SSEP, which closed on 20 January. The Scottish Government welcomes this consultation, and continued engagement with stakeholders on the Plan as it develops.

We will continue to work closely with NESO, the UK and Welsh Governments on the Plan as it develops, to ensure that it aligns with and respects devolved powers, planning mechanisms and ambitions, delivers real benefits for the people and communities of Scotland and supports our ongoing efforts for a just transition. Key to the Plan’s success will be ensuring that developer and investor confidence is maintained throughout.

Investment towards reducing Fuel Poverty in Scotland

Table 1.1 provides the cost breakdown of actions, as contained within the Fuel Poverty Strategy, taken towards the fuel poverty statutory targets. Due to financial reporting processes, spend is split by financial year rather than by the fuel poverty reporting period. This table only reflects the high-level policies contained within the Fuel Poverty Strategy: Action Plan.

Spend on actions to raise low household income is already captured in Best Start, Bright Futures annual progress reports.

The tables below outline recorded and provisional levels of investment, correct at the point of publication.

Table 1.1: Scottish Government funding spent from 2021 helping to tackle fuel poverty as per the actions outlined in the Fuel Poverty Strategy

Allocations	2021-22 (£m)	2022-23 (£m)	2023-24 (£m)	2024-25 (£m)
Energy Efficiency Delivery Programmes: Area Based Schemes & Warmer Homes Scotland	114.00	119.00	119.00	149.00 allocated* Final spent figure unknown until the end of the financial year
Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund**	3.10	17.40	29.40	Final spent figure unknown until the end of the financial year
Home Energy Scotland [fuel poverty advice]	3.40	6.07	6.68	6.27 allocated Final spent figure unknown until the end of the financial year
Affordable Housing Supply Programme	671.35	748.67	707.77	595.86 allocated Final spent figure unknown until the end of the financial year
Scottish Welfare Fund	41.00	43.50	41.00	61.00
Discretionary Housing Payments	81.90	84.10	83.75	90.50
Child Winter Heating Payment	4.90	5.70	7.70	10.20
Winter Heating Payment	Not Applicable	19.80	23.40	28.80
Scottish Child Payment	55.90	213.20	429.20	459.30
Free bus travel/concessionary travel to all young people aged 21 and under	9.80	108.20	165.15	140.34 (as at 21 February 2025) Final spent figure unknown until the end of the financial year
Free School Meals	155.60	169.80	185.80	191.80

Allocations	2022-23 (£m)	2023-24 (£m)	2024-25 (£m)
Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel	0.15	0.25	0.28

*This includes the additional £20m allocated to WHS in 2024/25.

**This funding includes social housing sector projects aimed at tackling fuel poverty that were distributed by the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme, which is a predecessor of the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund.