A VOUCHER scheme should be introduced to provide 1,000 litres of heating oil to homes not connected to the gas grid, according to Ceredigion MP Ben Lake.
Mr Lake, whose constituency has the highest proportion of properties not connected to the mains gas grid on mainland Britain, said it would be ‘immoral’ for the UK Government to punish non-gas households with a “substandard support package”.
Speaking ahead of yesterday’s debate in Parliament on energy costs in Wales, Mr Lake proposed a scheme for households to purchase 1,000 litres of heating oil or equivalent volume of liquid propane gas which would reflect a ‘commensurate level of support’ to that provided for households connected to the mains gas grid.
Currently, those reliant on heating oil and LPG have been offered a one-off payment of £100, which Mr Lake described as ‘pitiful’.
At current prices, a voucher worth 1,000 litres of heating oil (the predominant source of heating for off gas-grid homes in Wales) would cost £890.90.
Certas Energy estimate that the average household in the UK uses around 27,000 kWh of energy per year, which equates to around 1,800 litres of heating oil.
“An amount of 1,000 litres would therefore be enough to support most families using heating oil through the winter, and should be replicated next year if prices have not fallen,” said a spokesperson.
A total of 74 per cent of properties in Ceredigion are not connected to the mains gas grid.
“It is unacceptable that in an advanced economy such as that of the UK, thousands of families will be unable to afford to heat their homes this winter,” said Mr Lake.
“The UK Government has detailed its plan to help households connected to the mains gas grid, but we still await details of the support that will be offered to those not connected to the mains gas grid.
“These households are reliant on heating oil and LPG, and are facing eye-watering increases to their heating bills.
“They already face higher costs due to poor insulation, poor transport infrastructure, and poor local amenities.
“To further punish those households with a substandard support package is immoral.”
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