Emergency heating oil fund extended into winter

A fund set up to help lower income households that rely on heating oil and LPG to warm their homes has been extended into winter.

The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme was introduced for an initial six months on 1 April after conflict in the Middle East drove up prices.

About 142,000 Scottish households use heating oil and average costs soared to 153.74 pence per litre in March and, after dropping over the summer, prices have risen to almost 121 pence per litre. About 27,000 households use LPG.

The Scottish government said there had been more than 6,700 payments from the scheme so far.

Energy Minister Stephen Gethins said the fund would help those in greatest need.

He said: "While prices have fallen since the peak in March, ongoing international uncertainty means further increases cannot be ruled out this winter.

"That is why we are extending the scheme so eligible households can still apply for support if prices remain high over the colder months to come."

Households that use heating oil or LPG have also been encouraged to contact Home Energy Scotland for free and impartial advice on reducing costs.

Head of programme delivery Beth Mukushi said: "As the Scottish government-funded energy advice service, we speak to people in rural homes every day who are looking to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient.

"They may be in off-gas areas, worried about rising energy costs or are in an older property and don't know where to start. That can sometimes feel overwhelming; but we can help."

There is no fixed date for how long the extension to the fund will last and it will be kept under review.

Scottish government figures published last year found that a third of households in the Highlands were living in fuel poverty. In the Western Isles the figure was 40%.