Fuel heating experts have urged the Government to ‘prioritise’ fuel poor rural households under new Green Deal proposals or risk locking them out of the scheme.
In a written response to a Commons’ Select Committee inquiry into fuel poverty in the private rented and off-grid sectors, the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) has questioned whether the Green Deal will provide enough financial incentive for poverty hit areas to invest in renewable technologies, following the phasing out of the Warm Front scheme.
Jeremy Hawklsey, director general of OFTEC said: ‘Under the Green Deal proposals, energy efficiency improvements will be financed through higher long-term electricity bills for the householder. The Green Deal needs to recognise that fuel poor households may be unable to accept higher bills, and therefore it is unlikely there will be a significant take up of the Green Deal in rural areas.’
The technical and marketing body for the UK oil firing industry also recommended a means tested approach to voucher only winter fuel payments.
Hawksley added: ‘Although the scheme (Green Deal) plans to provide assistance for both the hardest to reach and hardest to treat properties, it must focus initially on the fuel poor as a priority.’
