Knowledge Tree
fuel poverty
Facts (10)
Sources
Navigating Tensions in Just Energy Transitions kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu Aug 20, 2025 10 facts
claimPartial devolution of power means that sub-state actors often lack the authority to implement all necessary levers for a Just Transition, such as the inability of Scottish authorities to intervene in energy markets to mitigate fuel poverty.
referenceHinson and Bolton (2024) published a report on fuel poverty in the UK.
claimResearch by Upham et al. (2023) and Sovacool et al. (2023) indicates that for fuel-poor households, justice in energy policy is primarily focused on affordability and home energy efficiency, with a preference for policy mechanisms that address these specific drivers of fuel poverty.
claimEffective evaluation and monitoring frameworks for Just Transitions should include both quantitative metrics, such as annual percentage changes in fuel poverty, and qualitative measures, such as a community's sense of self-determination and empowerment.
referenceThe Scottish Government's Fuel Poverty Strategy is a stand-alone document addressing the issue of fuel poverty (Scottish Government 2021).
claimResearch in Scotland frames fuel poverty as a Just Transition issue, extending the scope of the framework beyond concerns for fossil fuel workers.
claimThe transition to domestic electrification using technologies like heat pumps may increase household electricity costs depending on wider pricing factors, potentially worsening fuel poverty unless electricity prices are reduced, according to Xu et al. (2025).
referenceThe Scottish Government published 'Tackling fuel poverty in Scotland: a strategic approach' in 2021 to address fuel poverty.
measurementAs of 2023, 34% of the Scottish population were fuel poor, with 18.5% experiencing extreme fuel poverty, and this figure rises to 44% for remote rural households.
referenceHinson, S. and P. Bolton authored a 2024 House of Commons Library research paper titled 'Fuel poverty' (Number 8730).