The charity is calling upon the Scottish Government to engage faster and better across the energy efficiency landscape to ensure they meet the target of no more than 5% of households living in fuel poverty well ahead of its stated target date of 2040.

With expert speakers from government, housing and from NHS Scotland, the EAS Annual Conference 2019 will focus on the burden that fuel poverty creates for health and public services as well the human toll of cold, damp housing.

Journalists, campaigners and fuel poverty organisations from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland will share their thoughts and experiences as the cost of failure for the six people in Scotland who die every day of winter because of fuel poverty will be considered.

The Golden Jubilee Conference Centre in Clydebank will host the conference as well as the inaugural Energy Action Scotland Fuel Poverty Awards for 2019.

Minister for local government, housing and planning, Kevin Stewart, will share his vision for ending fuel poverty as the conference examines the true cost of living in Scotland and being unable to afford energy for heat, light and for cooking.

Norman Kerr, director of Energy Action Scotland, said: “It is inconceivable that Scotland is allowed to miss another target for the eradication of fuel poverty. For those people who live in and are at risk of fuel poverty the pace of change must increase with more and better options found to tackle challenging housing as well as homes off the gas grid.

“As an organisation our sole focus is the eradication of fuel poverty and with over 150 years of expertise across our team we will make sure that progress continues until fuel poverty is consigned to history.” 

The EAS Annual Conference 2019 will be held on November 7-8 and is supported by SSE Energy Services.