Thousands of households across Scotland could lose a rebate on their fuel bills amid uncertainty over the future of a discount scheme.
Around 200,000 properties are currently entitled to receive a £140 reduction in their annual payments on their December or March/April household electricity bills as part of the Warm House Discount.
But there is uncertainty over whether the scheme will continue this year amid wrangling between the Scottish and UK Governments over how it is delivered.
Now Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has urged ministers at Holyrood and Westminster to resolve the issue before the price cap on fuel bills is raised in a matter of weeks.
The Scottish Government said households north of the Border made up 10.11 per cent of Warm House Discount recipients - but claimed Westminster had only provided 9.4 per cent of funding for a separate Scottish scheme.
The cash to pay for the rebates is collected centrally and is paid for by all energy consumers across the UK.
Kate Morrison, fair markets spokeswoman for CAS, said: "With energy bills set to soar in a matter of weeks it’s incredibly worrying that we don’t have clarity over how this scheme will operate in Scotland.
"The Warm Home Discount isn’t a silver bullet for fuel poverty in Scotland – but it’s an absolute lifeline for those who receive, and that will be the case this year more than ever.
"It’s also important to understand the wider indirect support the scheme offers through advice, training and energy efficiency. One way or the other hundreds of thousands of households in Scotland are benefiting from this scheme.
"With the next round of funding due to begin in a matter of weeks – on the same day prices soar – it’s absolutely essential we urgently get some clarity over how this funding will be delivered in Scotland."
A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said: "We agree that the UK Government needs to provide much more certainty about the future of the current GB-wide scheme.
"This is needed because of changes they want to make in England and Wales.
"The current Warm Home Discount was launched by the UK Government in 2011 and is paid for by a charge on household bills.
"This means that the regulations for this scheme can only be agreed by the UK Parliament.
"Last February we proposed a simpler, fairer Warm Home Discount scheme in Scotland - but the UK Government has not agreed to this. Time has run out to develop a more flexible and better targeted scheme.
"Scottish ministers have urged the UK Government to confirm that the current scheme will continue in Scotland next year and are awaiting their response."
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