Residents living in off-grid homes are again facing delays to promised energy support, following a previous announcement that applications would open at the end of January.
The Government has now announced the application start date will be delayed until the end of February, and no support will be provided until the end of March.
BEIS (Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) Minister Graham Stuart publicly announced on Wednesday 25th January that households would face further delays.
Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has criticised the Government for this latest setback in protecting off-grid homes from spiralling energy costs.
Mrs Hobhouse has previously called for support to be sped up and said it is “unacceptable” to have left off-grid households so exposed to rising costs.
Problems with an online portal mean residents of park homes, like in Quarry Rock Gardens in Bath, and the significant boating community in the city, will have to wait until 27th February to apply for the support they are eligible for and are unlikely to receive any money before late March.
This includes both the £400 support that other houses have already been receiving via £66 instalments on their energy bills (Energy Bills Support Scheme) and the overdue £200 payment for households off the gas grid (Alternative Fuel Payment).
It means around 400,000 people across the country without a domestic electricity supply contract, which includes families living in park homes and houseboats, will not receive any help with their winter fuel bills until the spring.
Hundreds of thousands more households who have a direct mains electricity supply but are off the gas grid are still waiting for the £200 they were promised in the Autumn Statement.
The majority of these homes use heating oil or LPG to stay warm and have seen their bills treble over the past 18 months but have received no Government support.
The £200 payment for them is now due to be paid from 6th February.
Wera Hobhouse commented: “The Government’s dysfunction has proven to be the only thing that can be relied upon through this winter.
“Once again they have shown themselves to be missing in action when it comes to the needs of my constituents.
“As the Conservatives continue to prove their inadequacy for office, families who use heating oil or LPG are having to fork out far more for their energy and are now having to ration their warmth.
“Rishi Sunak has ignored repeated warnings from MPs of all parties and in doing so displays just how out of touch he is.”