Scotlands rural communities risk entering severe fuel poverty this winter after falling between the cracks of the UK Governments energy support scheme, Scottish Land and Estates has warned.
The organisation has written to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, to urge Ministers to take action to alleviate the huge cost pressures being placed on those living off-grid and relying on either solid fuel, heating oil or tank-delivered gas. It is estimated that around one-third of rural houses in Scotland use off-grid fuel.
Residents living in off-grid houses have been granted a 100 one-off Alternative Fuel Payment to their electricity bill account, but SLE claims this is far from adequate.
Heating oil has risen in price from 59p per litre to 106p between October 2021 and October 2022, according to data obtained from boilerjuice.com. There are estimated to be approximately 130,000 homes using heating oil in Scotland.
By contrast, the UK Government has said the Energy Price Guarantee which caps prices at 2,500 for average households supplied through mains gas and electricity will save urban households around 1,000 per annum. Over the winter months, that amounts to a saving of 500, making the off-grid 100 payment just one fifth of the equivalent urban support.
Sarah-Jane Laing, SLE chief executive, said: The UK Governments intervention on energy prices was commendable, but as happens all too often in public policy, rural communities have fallen between the cracks and are receiving next to no help as energy crisis continues.
We know the Chancellor has now signalled an end to the current energy scheme in April, but we are urging the Government to increase the Alternative Fuel Payment immediately, and in time for this winter, to bring it into line with the assistance being received by urban dwellers.
SLE added that it was in discussions with other rural bodies and politicians about this issue.
The UK Government has said the payment will ensure a typical customer using heating oil does not face a higher rate of growth in their heating costs since last winter, in comparison to those using mains gas who are supported by the Energy Price Guarantee.
