Wales Visit – Ed Davey demands “green grants” for Welsh families who rely on heating oil

• 30% of homes in Powys heat their homes by heating oil
• Over half of Powys residents don’t have mains gas

The Liberal Democrats are calling for extra support for families in Wales who aren’t on the gas grid and so rely on heating oil or other energy sources, meaning they are being hit hardest by the cost of living crisis.

Speaking on a visit to Powys in Wales today (Saturday 23 April), Liberal Democrat Leader and former Energy Secretary Ed Davey called for “green grants” to support homes that are off-grid, to help them transition to new, cheaper low-carbon heating systems such as heat pumps. This would be funded through a Windfall Tax on oil and gas producers and traders who have seen record profits since the spike in gas and oil prices.

Research by the Liberal Democrats reveals about a quarter of people in Wales are not on the gas grid. The figures reveal that Ceredigion is the area where the highest number of households rely on energy sources such as heating oil, with three-quarters of people not on the gas grid. This is followed by Powys, where over half of households are off-grid and rely on other energy sources such as heating oil. 

Off-grid gas homes often have higher heating costs due to heating oil, LPG or electric heating being more expensive than piped gas. Prices of heating oil have more than doubled to around 95p a litre, compared to 45p in August 2021. Families that heat their homes with heating oil or bottled gas also do not benefit from the price cap.  Combined with more insulation, heat pumps will likely see energy bills fall for those not on the gas grid. Improving the home insulation on a home could save £500 on energy bills a year. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

“Soaring bills are overwhelming too many families in Wales, and those in rural areas who rely on heating oil are being particularly hard hit.

“But the Conservatives either don’t care or don’t get it, and are doing nothing to help. 

“Homes not on the gas grid get a raw deal through no fault of their own. Liberal Democrats are calling for a fair deal for off-grid homes, through grants to help people transition to low-carbon heating and cut their energy bills in the long term.

“Every vote for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in May will elect a strong local champion, who will fight for a fair deal for their community instead of taking them for granted.”

Welsh Party Leader Jane Dodds MS added:

“This is a real crisis and neither Labour nor the Conservatives are taking it seriously enough. Estimates released this month show up to 45 per cent of households in Wales are now living in fuel poverty. That is an absolutely shameful statistic.

“Considering that 11 out of 13 of the seats the Welsh Conservatives hold at a Westminster level are rural, there is no defence for their lack of action. 

“Across Wales, our candidates will be making sure no resident is taken for granted.”