Dumfries and Galloway households face higher rates of fuel poverty

Fuel poverty emerges as a significant issue, especially among older residents

Almost four in ten households in Dumfries and Galloway are living in fuel poverty, new Scottish Government figures show.

Author: Marc McLeanPublished 26th Aug 2026

Households in Dumfries and Galloway are far more likely to be living in fuel poverty than elsewhere in the country, Scottish Government research has found.

And with an ageining population here, Dumfries and Galloway Council housing chiefs have described this as “an important health and wellbeing issue”.

It was discovered that 38 percent of residents in this region are struggling to pay their energy bills, while the national average is just 28 percent.

Meanwhile, 24 percent of Dumfries and Galloway households are classed as being in “extreme fuel poverty”, compared with 17 percent across Scotland as a whole.

These stats were published earlier this year in the Scottish House Condition Survey, which was carried out in 2024. However, the figures are due to be flagged up at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s tackling poverty, inequalities and housing sub committee next week.

A report by Jamie Little, the council’s strategic housing and regeneration team leader, states: “The Scottish Government found that Dumfries and Galloway’s fuel poverty rate was significantly higher than the Scottish average, placing it among the local authorities with the highest levels of fuel poverty in Scotland.

“Rurality, off-gas heating and lower energy efficiency levels continue to be major contributory factors.

“Older age is a significant risk factor for fuel poverty principally due to lower fixed incomes, higher heating requirements and residence in older, less energy-efficient homes.

“Given the demographic profile of Dumfries and Galloway, where the proportion of resident aged 65 and over exceeds the national average, addressing fuel poverty remains an important health and wellbeing issue.”

Nationally, fuel poverty has fallen, with the survey estimating that 28.7 percent of Scottish households were in fuel poverty during 2024, down from 33.9 percent the year before. Extreme fuel poverty also fell nationally, from 19.4 percent to 14 percent. However, the report makes clear this improvement is not down to better housing. It states that “much of this improvement is attributable to reduced energy prices rather than structural change within the housing stock,” after energy prices fell by 23.3 percent between 2023 and 2024.

A key factor behind this region’s higher rates is its distance from the gas network. The report cites Centre for Sustainable Energy estimates that “45.9% of homes are off the gas grid in Dumfries and Galloway,” with mains gas largely limited to Dumfries, Stranraer, Annan, Gretna and Lockerbie.

Large rural areas including the Machars, Rhins, Glenkens, Eskdale and Upper Nithsdale remain dependent on other fuels, such as electricity and oil, which the report says leaves residents facing higher heating costs.

The Scottish House Condition Survey document will be discussed by councillors at the committee on September 3.

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