Many will face higher energy bills than ever

As we adapt to the latest guidance and protection measures we do so as the seasons change. The days get shorter and colder, and we come to a time of year where thoughts turn to cosying up indoors, to thawing cold hands, and to digging out woolly jumpers.

But for too many of us, it’s not about simply turning the heating on and warming up. This year could see more homes than ever facing difficulties over energy bills. Most of us are now used to spending increased amounts of time at home. The limits on other activities mean we are cooking more at home, using more heating, more power for lighting, laptops and everything else.

In Scotland we already have dismaying levels of fuel poverty, with almost one in four households living in fuel poverty. But by its own estimates, the Scottish Government has said an additional 126,000 Scots homes could be struggling with fuel bills as a result of the impacts of Covid-19.

That would mean 29 per cent of Scottish homes potentially in fuel poverty this year. It is simply not good enough to have 724,000 households worrying about their fuel bills, particularly as we move into the coldest months of the year. The Scottish Government has rightly recognised increased pressures on energy bills but it’s just not doing enough to reduce fuel poverty rates and leaving too many households struggling to cope.

At a time when we are all striving to stay in good health, living in a cold home can exacerbate many illnesses as well as impacting on mental health. Those homes which are in, or more at risk of, fuel poverty are often those who are most vulnerable to coronavirus, and who need best protected. We must ensure that they are.

Scotland is an energy rich country yet we have increasing numbers of homes in fuel poverty, and not enough action to address this. If we want to reduce the number of homes in fuel poverty we need to see increased and targeted support being provided, we need employers encouraged to take account of increased bills for staff working from home, we need real action on fair energy pricing and we need to see an increase in retrofitting and home insulation measures. Steps like these would help put an end to the difficult decisions some people are making to keep their homes warm.

If you, or someone you know may be finding it difficult to pay energy bills, there are national and local services that may be able to help.with Stirling and all of

Midscotland and Fife now in Tier 3, we can find ourselves becoming more isolated once more, but there is strength in our local communities and support is our there.

While guidance is now prescribed on a more local basis, we do need to work together and be united, with the aim of returning to a point where we can freely visit the people and places we choose.

More than ever we can see the importance of being part of something bigger, of looking after not just those closest to home but across regions and countries.

The recent news on progress towards a vaccine is a much-needed boost as we move into the winter and it gives us some hope that before too long we will be able to meet once more with our friends and families that for now are too distant.

More details at Home Energy Scotland Helpline: 0808 808 2282 and website homeenergyscotland.org