Harrogate MP secures fuel bill assurances for ‘off-grid’ residents

The rebate will be made by the energy companies and is expected to be taken off people’s bills in the autumn.

However, not all homes receive their gas and electricity from a conventional energy provider and this is particularly true for many caravan park residents who get their gas from LPG bottles.

These people would not have benefited from the current scheme to reduce bills.

In Harrogate and Knaresborough, there are around 400 homes who receive their energy in this way and would have missed out on the discount.

MP Andrew Jones wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on their behalf asking that measures should be put in place to support those people who are living ‘off grid’.

Mr Jones said: “The costs re-billed to park home residents are going up just the same as for everyone else and the cost of LPG gas bottles has shot up so it is important that we do not leave those people behind because they are experiencing the same cost of living increases but live ‘off grid’.”

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Ministers have since responded that households, such as those living in park homes, that do not have a direct relationship with energy suppliers, will receive the equivalent support to those that receive their electricity in a conventional way.

Mr Jones added: “I am so pleased that the Treasury responded positively to my letter highlighting the issues faced by park home residents.

“I am also concerned about reports that some renters who pay for their fuel bills via their rent may miss out if their landlords do not pass the discount on so I am also encouraging the government to put in place measures to ensure that the discount is passed to tenants.

“Some people – again primarily renters – pay for fuel through pre-payment cards.

“These are often the least well-off and use what is already an expensive method and I am writing to the Treasury to ensure these people are not left behind either.”

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