Island Fuel Poverty - Findings

In February and March 2026, the Panel engaged with the six Scottish local authorities with islands in their jurisdiction to explore their specific fuel poverty challenges. This report summarises the findings from these sessions.

Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel – Island Fuel Poverty Findings.pdf

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2. Output from the Bilateral Meetings and Roundtable

2.1  The Panel, represented by Matt Cole, the Panel Chair and Alister Steele, Panel Member and Philippa Brosnan, Head of Secretariat held online meetings with the 6 local authorities between 16th February and 12th of March.

2.2  These meetings explored the drivers of fuel poverty in island communities  and how they can be mitigated ensuring that any local drivers were understood.

2.3 The Panel developed initial reflections on the drivers of and mitigations for fuel poverty and its thoughts on these were presented to the attendees at the Island Fuel Poverty Roundtable on the 17th of March.

2.4. The Roundtable explored 6 priority areas for mitigating island fuel poverty, identified during the bilateral meetings with the island local authorities. These were:

  1. Increased investment in energy efficiency measures, recognising the higher cost of delivery in island communities, and ensuring a fabric first approach.
  2. Core funding for integrated advice and support services.
  3. Leadership, including an enhanced role for local authorities.
  4. Energy market reform and pricing, including the support and the actions open to the Scottish Government.
  5. The effectiveness and structure of community benefits and how these can be used to tackle fuel poverty.
  6. The potential to access renewable electricity generation to tackle fuel poverty.

A mural board was used to capture ideas and thoughts during the Roundtable.

2.5. The outputs from the bilateral meetings and the Roundtable are set out below:

  • The drivers of fuel poverty in island communities.
  • Mitigations for the fuel poverty drivers.
  • Reflections on the drivers and mitigations
  • Summary of the discussion at the Roundtable on the priority areas for tacking island fuel poverty.
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