MS calls for off-grid households to get additional energy support

MID and West Wales MS Cefin Campbell has called on the Welsh Government to provide additional support for off-grid households in Carmarthenshire to help them with their heating bills following the UK Government’s “disastrous” mini budget.

Speaking during First Minister’s Questions, the Plaid Cymru MS highlighted that across Carmarthenshire an estimated 39% of households are not connected to the mains gas grid.

Mr Campbell highlighted that unlike electricity and gas, heating oil was not subject to a price cap.

During his mini budget on September 23, Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng revealed proposals for a £100 payment to be support households reliant on heating oil.

However, Mr Campbell MS has criticised this, describing the payment as “a pittance that won’t do anything other than scratch the surface for these kinds of households.”

Last month, the Welsh Government announced a Fuel Support Scheme, which offers £200 for eligible households to meet the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.

However, with eligibility reliant on qualifying benefits, Mr Campbell expressed concerns that areas of Mid and West Wales may be disproportionately under-qualified for the fund, compared to more urban areas. Mr Campbell subsequently called on the First Minister to consider committing to a further support package to aid off-grid households in rural areas.

Cefin Campbell said: “It’s common knowledge that homes across Carmarthenshire are disproportionately reliant on off-grid fuel sources such as oil and biomass than other parts of Wales.”