The Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel responds to the Scottish Government’s Tackling Fuel Poverty in Scotland: periodic report 2021-2024

Today (30^th September 2025), we publish our statutory response to the Scottish Government’s triennial update outlining its progress on the fuel poverty targets.

In many ways our report is a technical one – a response to the Scottish Government’s assessment of how it’s doing on the journey to Scotland’s, 2040 fuel poverty targets. It’s structured around the requirements of The Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 of assessing progress toward meeting the fuel poverty targets, the likelihood of meeting the fuel poverty targets, and the extent to which the four drivers of fuel poverty are being addressed. In writing this report however we do not forget those in fuel poverty whose experience informs and drives the work of all those working to tackle fuel poverty. We have heard from many of those whose health, wellbeing, and security, has been undermined through their experience of fuel poverty.

We recognise that there has been a profound shift in the energy landscape since 2019, when the Act was passed, and that some levers sit outside the Scottish Government’s devolved powers. But the rise in fuel poverty rates in Scotland since 2019 from an estimated 24.6% of households in fuel poverty, to 34% in 2023, is stark, and we do not think that fuel poverty has seen the required level of strategic prioritisation. We also think that the deficits in the current Fuel Poverty Strategy, and the lack of a monitoring and evaluation framework, makes the efficacy of national actions and progress hard to assess. On the evidence presented in the Periodic Report, our view is that the legally-binding 2030 interim fuel poverty is extremely unlikely to be met and the 2040 target, although still in sight, needs a new strategic approach and greater strategic prioritisation.

However, the revision of the strategy by the end of 2026 (as indicated in the Fuel Poverty Act) is an opportunity to strengthen the strategic approach to fuel poverty. We have made nine recommendations to the Scottish Government on developing a revised fuel poverty strategy and working towards achieving the fuel poverty targets.

As our first appointment term comes to an end, we remain committed to supporting the Scottish Government to achieve meaningful action towards the elimination of fuel poverty.