Craig Stirrat

As householders await greater clarity from the Scottish Government on its plans for achieving net zero in homes, the immediate concern for many families is rather more pressing: the cost of energy.

Notwithstanding the recent heatwave, growing numbers of households are anxious about whether they can afford to heat their homes, cook their meals and keep the lights on. The domestic energy crisis is no longer simply an issue about utility bills. It is part of a wider cost-of-living crisis, which in turn is contributing to a broader housing crisis and, increasingly, a public health crisis.

The scale of the problem should concern policymakers. Ofgem figures show that the total debt and arrears owed by UK domestic gas and electricity customers for more than 91 days rose from £1.086 billion in Q1 2018 to £4.79 billion in Q1 2026. Electricity debt is particularly worrying as public policy increasingly encourages a transition towards electrically powered heating. The average electricity debt owed by domestic customers without an arrangement to repay their arrears rose from £440 in Q3 2012 to £1,876 in Q1 2026.

Perhaps even more concerning is the number of households simply going without. Around 1.7 million domestic smart electric prepayment meter customers self-disconnected during Q1 2026, with such figures tending to rise during the winter when energy costs are highest.

These are not just statistics. They represent households making impossible choices.

We traditionally recognise five basic human needs: air, water, food, shelter and sleep. In modern society, however, affordable energy has arguably become a sixth basic need. We depend upon it to heat our homes, prepare food, heat water, provide lighting and participate in everyday life. A home may provide shelter, but if the occupant cannot afford the energy required to make it warm, safe and habitable, then that shelter is fundamentally compromised.

The consequences for health are significant. Research suggests that cold, damp and mouldy housing contributes to 4,500 to 5,000 of preventable excess winter deaths each year, with respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses among the serious health consequences. Cold homes can also worsen existing medical conditions, while fuel poverty and the anxiety associated with mounting bills can have a damaging effect on mental health and wellbeing.

Scottish Housing Day 2026 therefore provides an important opportunity to remind policymakers that affordable, energy-efficient housing is fundamental to good health. Investment in housing is not simply investment in bricks and mortar; it can improve lives, prevent illness and reduce pressure on the public purse.

Grampian Housing Association and many other housing providers have invested significant sums in improving energy efficiency within tenants’ homes, reducing carbon emissions and tackling fuel poverty. These investments remain essential. However, the benefits can be undermined when gas and electricity prices continue to rise.

Improving a home’s energy efficiency should mean that less energy is required to achieve a comfortable temperature. But if the price of energy rises faster than the savings achieved, households can still face unaffordable bills. This is a critical issue as Scotland moves towards greater use of electric heating.

The transition to renewable energy and low-carbon heating offers a significant opportunity to reduce dependence on volatile international gas markets. Investment in renewables is essential if we are to build an energy system that works for both people and the planet. Yet electrification will not command public confidence if households are asked to replace gas heating with electric alternatives while electricity remains unaffordable. The recent experience of council tenants’ use of air-sourced heating systems in “gold” sustainability standard new build homes in Aberdeen is such an example.

The structure of energy pricing therefore requires urgent attention. UK households remain heavily exposed to the wholesale price of gas, even as increasing amounts of electricity are generated from lower-cost renewable sources. If the transition to electric heating is to succeed, policymakers must ensure that the benefits of cheaper clean generation are reflected in household bills.

Energy affordability challenges also extend beyond those traditionally regarded as vulnerable. In Scotland, significant numbers of household’s report being unable to heat their homes to a comfortable level or struggling to keep up with energy bills. The pressures are greatest for low-income households, those receiving means-tested benefits and households affected by disability or long-term health conditions.

However, targeting support solely at those receiving benefits risks missing many households under genuine financial pressure, including families with high energy use because of medical needs, disability or household size. The energy crisis is increasingly affecting people in work and households who may not qualify for traditional forms of assistance.

On the 16 September, Scottish Housing Day should therefore be a call for coordinated action.

The UK Government must address the structural problems within energy pricing and reduce household exposure to volatile gas markets. At the same time, the Scottish Government must stop delaying key decisions on heat in buildings and provide affordable housing providers, and households across all tenures, with a clear, realistic and properly funded roadmap towards net zero homes.

The housing sector is ready to play its part, but landlords cannot solve the energy affordability crisis alone.

A successful transition must reduce carbon emissions while also reducing household costs. It must improve energy efficiency while protecting health and wellbeing. And it must recognise that warm, affordable homes are not a luxury.

They are fundamental to dignity, health and security - and an essential investment in Scotland’s future.