PLAID CYMRU politicians have reiterated calls for the UK Government to provide greater support for ‘off grid’ Pembrokeshire households, pressing for a roll-out of a voucher scheme that would provide 1,000 litres of heating oil for homes not connected to the gas grid.

The calls have been made in Westminster by Plaid Cymru’s Ben Lake, Member of Parliament for Ceredigion – a county where 74% of properties are not connected to the mains gas grid.

The proposed scheme would allow households to purchase 1,000 litres of heating oil or equivalent volume of liquid propane gas (LPG) which would reflect a “commensurate level of support” to that provided for households connected to the mains gas grid.

During the mini-budget in September, the Conservative Government revealed proposals for a £100 payment to be support households reliant on heating oil – a sum which has been described by Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru regional Member of the Senedd for Mid & West Wales as “pitiful”.

According to estimates, 41% of Pembrokeshire properties are currently not connected to the mains gas grid – comparing with a Wales average of 19%. Such households are reliant on alternative heating sources, including oil, biomass and LPG gas – which, unlike electricity, are not subject to a price cap, and therefore liable to fluctuating prices.

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 estimates 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. 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.

Cefin Campbell MS, who previously called on the Welsh Government to provide greater support for off-grid households said:

“As winter approaches, and the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, it’s clear rural households across Pembrokeshire are likely to be disproportionally impacted by surging heating prices.

The Tories in Westminster have detailed their plan to help households connected to the mains gas grid, but we still await clarity on the pitiful £100 support payment that will be offered to those not connected to the mains gas grid. Meanwhile, in Pembrokeshire many households will also fall short of the necessary criteria to gain additional fuel support announced by the Welsh Government.

As many families face the unenviable choice between heating and eating, now is the time for the UK Government to pull-up their socks and act to support rural off-grid households, and such offering of a 1,000 litre voucher would provide comfort and support to so many at a time of growing uncertainty.”

Plaid Cymru’s Ben Lake MP added:

“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.”

“Plaid Cymru is proposing a voucher scheme for households to purchase 1,000 litres of heating oil or equivalent volume of LPG to heat their homes this winter. That would represent a commensurate level of support to that already offered to households covered by the Energy Price Guarantee.

“Households that are not connected to the mains gas grid are mostly found in rural and deprived post-industrial areas of Wales. 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.

“We are facing a bleak winter. While the UK Government chooses to look the other way, Plaid Cymru is providing positive solutions to help families keep warm.”