National Islands Plan: annual report 2023

Fuel Poverty

Strategic objective 5 – Reduce levels of fuel poverty

Commitment 5.1 Review how delivery schemes can work better locally and review funding for island communities.

Implementation Route Map 2023

• The successor to the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme is currently undergoing procurement, to go live in 2023. As part of the design for the successor to the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme, an eligibility working group was formed which reviewed ways in which eligibility levels and processes could be changed to better target support at fuel poor households. Eligibility criteria has now been set and the successor scheme launches in October 2023.

The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme re-launched in October 2023, with a strong focus on decarbonisation, more measures per intervention and with a larger contract value. Eligibility criteria for the scheme was set in conjunction with the Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel (FPAP).

There are currently 9 island installers from a total of 35 nationally: 4 in the Western Isles, 2 in Orkney and 3 in Shetland. Since January 2019, the install/delivery costs for the islands totals £12,032,235.14 (exc. VAT).

In 2022-23, the six islands councils increased the number of energy efficiency measures they delivered and the amount of grant that they claimed through Area Based Schemes. The six councils claimed £9.6 million in scheme costs, around £3 million more than in 2021-22, and delivered just under 300 more improvements.

Since 2013, the six council areas have benefitted from around 18% of Scottish Government investment and delivered 18,000 improvements or around 15% of the total for the ABS programme. The allocation model for ABS funding is based upon levels of fuel poverty and “hard to treat” properties as agreed by Council Leaders and Scottish Ministers.

Commitment 5.2 Develop a remote rural, remote small town and island Minimum Income Standard uplift, with the uplift for island areas to be determined separately.

Commitment fulfilled – Please see the National Island Plan 2021 Annual Report for further details.

Commitment 5.3 Produce an Island Community Impact Assessment (ICIA) on the final Fuel Poverty Strategy, ensuring that representatives from island local authorities are fully involved in its development.

Commitment fulfilled – This commitment was fulfilled in 2022. Please see the National Island Plan 2022 Annual Report for further details.

Commitment 5.4 Carry out research and analysis to meet the requirements of the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 that will also enhance our understanding of the costs of living faced by families living in island communities.

Commitment fulfilled – This commitment was fulfilled in 2021. Please see the National Island Plan 2021 Annual Report for further details.