Oil heating group seeks action to support rural energy consumers

OFTEC, representing the oil heating industry, has called upon rural MPs to support a new incentive to assist with people struggling to meet the cost of their fuel bill. They have asked MPs to put in place measures to help households to cut energy costs. A boiler scrappage scheme would be an example.

Malcolm Farrow, from OFTEC, said: “For far too long those people struggling with their fuel bills have been left out in the cold as there just isn’t enough government support available to help them. In 2016, this is an unacceptable situation.”? “We’re urging MPs to act now and support a simple boiler scrappage scheme which could help thousands of households upgrade to a modern, condensing boiler. As a result they would see an immediate drop in their fuel bills as well as a reduction in their CO2 emissions.”??“Whilst the households who rely on heating oil are benefitting from a significant fall in oil prices, paying on average £200 less per year than homes on mains gas, there are still far too many people being forced to turn down their heating to keep warm. This puts them at risk of serious health problems. We are urging local MPs to take action now to help households become more energy efficient and in turn reduce fuel poverty across the country.”