Almost half of all north homes are in fuel poverty, according to figures obtained by a Highland MP.
Charles Kennedy, Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said it was a “disturbingly stark statistic” that 46.7% – or some 101,500 homes – suffer from fuel poverty.
He has called for further action to eliminate a 2p surcharge levied by power giant Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) on fuel bills in the north.
Mr Kennedy obtained the findings in a parliamentary question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change.
The figures are based on the Scottish Housing Condition Survey’s local analysis from 2011-2013.
The Press and Journal has been campaigning for the surcharge to be overturned since it emerged that householders in the Highlands, islands and north east were paying more for their fuel because of regional variations in transmission costs.
SSE have insisted that they want to scrap the charge but have said they are unable to do so because it is set by regulator Ofgem.
Mr Kennedy, who highlighted the Press and Journal campaign at Westminster, said: “This disturbingly stark statistic must surely raise further serious moral questions as to the legitimacy of SSE, a company that last year earned £1.5billion profit last year, enforcing their 2% levy.
“It cannot be socially just or justifiable. I will certainly be writing to SSE to push them further on this urgent matter. Indeed, we must all redouble our campaign efforts to try and secure a change of heart and of policy.”
A spokesman for SSE said: “SSE has a policy of charging its retail customers according to the underlying costs it takes to supply them, but if we can change the underlying costs, the problem goes away.
“As this is an issue which affects all suppliers and also impacts other regions in GB, such as Merseyside and north Wales where costs are even higher than the north of Scotland, it requires an industry wide solution and regulatory action.
“SSE will continue to lead the campaign for ‘national’ pricing to address the issue which we believe is simpler, but more importantly, fairer.”