Social Inequality in the Supply and Use of Fuel in Scottish Towns c.1750–1850

The dramatic increases in wholesale and retail fuel prices experienced globally in the months preceding the economic crash of 2008 brought the issue of ‘fuel poverty’ to the forefront of social policy agendas worldwide. Modern British definitions state that fuel poverty occurs Where a combination of poor housing conditions and low income mean that the household cannot afford sufficient warmth for health and comfort … [defined as] … where a household needs to spend 10% or more of its income to meet fuel costs. In energy consumption terms, the definition of a ‘fuel poor’ household is: One needing to spend