Homes in rural Scotland that rely on heating oil instead of on-grid gas or electricity would benefit from Labour’s plans to freeze the energy price cap, Rachel Reeves has said. An estimated 2.7 million off-grid homes across the UK will be included in the Labour’s costed proposals to stop energy bills rising over the winter, the Shadow chancellor confirmed.
Labour claimed the Tory government controversially excluded off-grid houses from their £400 energy rebate over the winter, leaving thousands who rely on oil, gas tanks or solid fuel without support. Reeves said off-grid householders were included Labour’s proposals.
She said: “Families living in more remote areas and get their power off grid are feeling the bite of this mounting cost of living crisis. Labour’s fully-funded plan to freeze the price cap will make sure households don’t pay a penny more this winter, saving you £1,000. And our mission for home-grown renewable energy and to insulate 19 million homes will keep bills down for the long term too.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer on Monday set out a “robust, costed plan” to tackle increasing energy bills paid for in part by an extension of the windfall levy on the profits of the oil and gas companies.
He said the £29 billion plan to address the “national emergency” would freeze the energy price cap at its current level of £1,971 for six months from October, saving the average household £1,000.
A Government spokesperson said: “The UK government is urgently working to ensure as many customers as possible, including those living off the grid, receive energy bills support. On July 29, we confirmed that funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the one per cent of households who will not be reached through the scheme.”
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