Energy / Heating oil support available from early April
HOUSEHOLDS struggling with the rising cost of heating oil and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) will be able to apply for £300 of support from 1 April.
The Scottish Government’s Emergency Heating Oil Scheme will be available to users of both heating oil and LPG who are struggling with recent price increases due to the war in Iran.
Payments will be made directly to suppliers, where possible, to help qualifying households to place an order.
The scheme, which will be administered by Advice Direct Scotland, is envisaged to run for up to six months with two opportunities to apply during that period.
It will focus on low-income households, including those in receipt of means-tested social security.
However it will also be open to applications from other people who have unavoidable additional heating needs and may face hardship, including people with disabilities or those at risk of self-rationing fuel.
Around seven per cent of households in Scotland rely on oil or LPG, with rural and island areas – such as Shetland – disproportionately affected.
It is estimated that approximately 142,000 Scottish households use heating oil and around 27,000 use LPG.
Housing secretary Màiri McAllan said they knew that the sudden rise in heating oil prices had “come as a shock to many people”, particularly in island areas.
“Last week the UK Government announced just £4.6 million of support for Scotland,” she said.
“This was insufficient, so we are more than doubling it to £10 million. Given the urgency of the situation as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, I can confirm that the support in Scotland will be open to applications from next week.
“This represents an immediate response by the Scottish Government to the present crisis and will ensure help is provided as quickly as possible to those in greatest need.
“However, the conflict in Iran remains volatile and its ongoing impact on energy prices is hard to predict. If such high prices continue the UK Government must step up to provide further, fully funded support, and bring into force long-awaited regulation for this sector to protect consumers.”
Advice Direct Scotland chief executive Andrew Bartlett said he was pleased to support the fund.
“We’re working quickly with the Scottish Government to get this scheme operational to get help to the people who need it most,” he said.
“Full details of how and where to apply will be released shortly – and we remain available to provide energy advice to anyone who needs it in the meantime.”
Liberal Democrat election candidate Emma Macdonald said previously it was “vital” that Shetland receives its fair share of heating oil support.
Macdonald welcomed the £10 million in funding but said the “question now is how this funding will actually reach the people who need it most, and whether it will be enough if high prices continue”.
“If this funding is targeted properly, it could make a real difference to families across Shetland,” she said. “But if it isn’t, there’s a real risk that we are once again overlooked in favour of the central belt.”
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