MORE than one in three Scottish households are suffering from fuel poverty, a new survey shows.

The research, taken by over 11,000 Scottish consumers who have joined the Big Energy Switch campaign, a Scotland-wide campaign to cut the cost of electricity and gas, found that 32 per cent met, or exceeded, the basic definition of fuel poverty.

Big Energy Switch defined fuel poverty as situation where a household was spending more than 10% of their household income on energy. It says that is a statistical measure that proves energy prices are too high.

The survey said 10% were suffering severe fuel poverty, meaning they spend 16-20 per cent of their household income on energy. And 8% were in the extreme fuel poverty category, spending over 20% of income on energy.

One Big Switch, the consumer network, which organised the campaign, said the statistics "put beyond doubt the fact that Scotland is gripped by an energy price rise crisis, and suggest that deep and far ranging energy reform is needed".

It said fuel poverty in Scotland has been rising significantly in recent years due to the fact that since 2003 energy prices have risen four times faster than household incomes.

Ex-footballer Michael Stewart, the campaign director said: "This survey highlights the huge level of financial strain spiralling energy prices are placing on household budgets in Scotland. The fact that one in three households are now in fuel poverty means much more needs to be done to help families meet the ever rising cost of energy bills.

"Some times it takes cold hard statistics like these to remind us that community concern about rising energy prices is not just the usual billing gripes, this is real crisis for many hard working families that simply cannot make ends meet with energy prices this high."