£60 Million To Tackle Fuel Poverty

Energy efficiency help for local authorities, including almost £3 million for Fife.

Some of Scotland's most vulnerable households will receive help to make their homes warmer, more environmentally friendly and cheaper through a £60 million energy efficiency fund, Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said today.

The investment into the Home Energy Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS) will enable Scotland's local authorities to install energy efficiency measures such as solid wall, cavity and loft insulation in their communities.

Speaking on a visit to Ravenscraig, Kirkcaldy in Fife, where she met with residents whose homes have been improved through external wall insulation, Mrs Burgess said:

"It is a scandal that there should be any fuel poverty in an energy-rich nation like Scotland.

"This £60 million investment will be distributed across all of Scotland's local authorities and will help households in fuel poor areas stay warm and reduce their energy bills. In total, the Scottish Government will spend almost a quarter of a billion pounds over a three year period on fuel poverty and energy efficiency.

"Rising energy bills remain a huge concern for this government. Today’s funding will see thousands of homes across Scotland receive new measures like solid wall insulation and help to drive down the number of people living in fuel poverty.

"I am particularly pleased to announce that some of our most remote areas, such as Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles are receiving over £5 million more in funding than they did last year. This will ensure that all of Scotland benefits from this funding and in particular those areas which are off the gas grid and where households are more likely to find it difficult to heat their home."

Mrs Burgess continued:

"The Scottish Government is firmly committed to tackling climate change and lowering overall emissions in Scotland. This investment will help further reduce carbon emissions and will also support and sustain the insulation industry in Scotland, generating work and supporting jobs.

"We are doing everything we can within our limited powers to provide a wide range of energy efficiency measures to individual households and to local authorities.

"We are actively working with councils and energy companies to ensure that Scotland continues to get its fair share of funding for efficiency programmes like these.

"Only with the full powers of independence can we fully tackle all the causes of fuel poverty. 

"We plan to permanently transfer responsibility for ECO and Warm Homes Discount from energy companies to the Scottish Government, meeting these costs from central resources and maintaining investment in energy efficiency. By passing on these long term reductions to their consumers, companies will be able to reduce bills year on year, in contrast to the UK Government’s short term fix."

Councillor Judy Hamilton, Executive spokesperson for Housing and Building Services at Fife Council added: 

"Fife Council is delighted to receive £2,933,009 from the Scottish Government, so that we can continue to improve the lives of people across Fife by making their homes warmer and cheaper to heat.

"I am particularly pleased that we will be working in partnership with the charity Changeworks and installing insulation in the homes of people who are at risk of fuel poverty.

"We have also recently received £2.5 million funding from Scottish Gas via the Energy Company Obligation to transform over 250 homes in the area."

Householders who would like to know more about this and other Scottish Government funded offers can contact the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Scotland hotline on 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org