Highland Council to Address Fuel Poverty
A group of eight Highland councillors will be tasked with investigating ways the local authority can alleviate the pressures of fuel poverty affecting residents in the region.
According to the council, nearly 50% of the Highlands' 110,743 households experience fuel poverty, compared to 24% nationally.
The council noted that price increases linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran have exacerbated existing cost of living challenges.
Next week, the corporate resources committee is scheduled to meet and is expected to approve the composition of the new working group.
Definition and Statistics on Fuel Poverty
In Scotland, a household is considered to be living in fuel poverty if the cost of heating their home exceeds 10% of their household income after tax and housing costs have been deducted.
Highland Council reports that 33% of households in the region experience extreme fuel poverty, compared to 12% nationally.
Almost two-thirds of homes in the Highlands are off the gas grid and rely on electricity, which the local authority states is three to four times more expensive than mains gas.
Impact of Heating Oil Price Spikes
In March, calls were made for enhanced protections for thousands of rural Scottish households dependent on heating oil to shield them from sudden cost spikes.
The US-Israel conflict with Iran caused oil prices to surge at the beginning of March.
Approximately 142,000 Scottish households use heating oil. Average costs in Scotland rose from 67.92p per litre on 28 February—the day US and Israel launched attacks on Iran—to 147p per litre by 8 March.
Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust, based in the Highlands, was among those advocating for increased support for affected households.
