Shock figures from a Dundee housing association reveal a third of households have experienced mental or physical health issues due to fuel poverty.
The survey, carried out by Hillcrest Housing Association, which is headquartered in the city, showed 52% of households in Scotland have been plunged into fuel poverty as a result of crippling energy prices.
This has led to 35% of all respondents experiencing problems including stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as respiratory illnesses such as asthma, often exacerbated by under-heated homes.
Households spending more than 10% of their total income on energy bills are considered to be in fuel poverty, meaning bills become more challenging, and the ability to heat the home can be affected.
The situation is not limited to housing association or council tenants with 50% of the respondents being homeowners, and almost 20% being private rent tenants.
The housing association established the Hillcrest Energy Advice Team (HEAT) five years ago to offer a dedicated support service to people struggling with costs.
Euan Hird, an energy adviser with HEAT, said rising energy bills were causing more households to fall into fuel poverty.
He said: “For many this can result in additional stress and struggle when it comes to paying the bills, but for some it can be as serious as having to choose between eating or heating.
“In current-day Scotland, it’s unacceptable that some households are being forced to make this decision.
“With our survey revealing the extent of homes gripped by fuel poverty, the lengths people are going to in order to try and keep warm and the number of health issues that are being caused, it presents a very concerning picture.”
In another startling statistic almost 1 in 10 respondents, who were all anonymous to encourage honest answers, said they were spending more than 25% of their income on energy bills.
Many reported staying away from home for longer than necessary to avoid paying for heating, while others went to bed early or used hot water bottles.
Some even went to extreme measures such as using hair dryers for warmth.
The findings emerged as a Holyrood Committee voiced its support for a bill to reduce fuel poverty in Scotland.
The Local Government and Communities Committee published a report on the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill today, following months of expert evidence and hearing first-hand from people across Scotland.
The evidence included the experience of 54-year-old Fife woman Carolynn McQueen who described how fuel poverty left her home so cold she would wake with ice on her nose and cheeks.
