UK energy policy: ‘Paltry’ support for off-grid households

Mr Dey has said that calls for an increase in the £100 promised to off-grid households across the UK which do not benefit from the Energy Price Guarantee have been ignored.

Angus South MSP Graeme Dey has condemned what he said is Westminster’s lack of support with energy bills for households which are not connected to the energy grid.

The UK Government previously announced it would offer £100 in total to households across the UK which do not benefit from the Energy Price Guarantee, leading the SNP and others to call for an increase to this amount.

However, Mr Dey said that the Chancellor's recent statement made clear that these calls have not been heeded.

Hundreds of thousands of people living off-grid are calling for clarification on how they will be able to access the discounts the Government is providing to households to support them with their bills this winter.

The Government has promised funding will be provided to support off-grid households, but is yet to release all the details.

Figures from the House of Commons Library estimate there are around 129,000 homes in Scotland reliant on home heating oil due to being ‘off-grid’, and also therefore not covered by the energy price cap or Energy Price Guarantee.

In the past two years, the cost of home heating oil for households has increased by more than 230% – rising from 31 pence a litre to £1.05. For a home in rural Scotland, £100 would buy less than 100 litres of heating oil – enough for just two to three weeks.

Mr Dey said: “The support available for off-grid homes is paltry – frankly an insult to rural families here in Angus and across Scotland, who have been hung out to dry.

“It represents another gaping hole in the UK Government’s energy plan, with the cost of heating for such homes – unprotected by a cap – being much higher than in other parts of the country.

“The coming winter is set to be truly difficult for many – and yet the Tories are focused on boosting bankers’ bonuses and tax breaks for the rich and big business, instead of providing meaningful support to those in need.

“Scotland has more than enough energy potential to be self-sufficient, yet we continue to pay the price of Westminster failure .”