More support needed to offset rising energy costs

Rising energy prices continue to impact rural families, especially those off the gas grid who use heating oil or liquid petroleum gas.

Some of the worst affected households – already struggling due to the existing cost-of-living crisis – have seen the cost of fuel more than double in recent weeks, since the start of the war in the Middle East.

The government has launched a support scheme, run through local authorities, but it is too small, too bureaucratic and targeted solely at the most vulnerable users.

ACRE believes that a more equitable approach is needed, and has written to senior government figures, including both Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Defra Minister Dame Angela Eagle, with a set of proposals for getting more help into rural communities in both the short and longer term.

Elsewhere, ACRE has – with vital input from the wider Network – contributed evidence to the Competition and Markets Authority’s urgent study of the heating oil market.

The findings of this important consultation, which could lead to changes being made to the heating oil market, are expected over the summer.

Members are encouraged to keep sharing feedback of how the energy crisis is affecting their communities, as the real-life stories help to highlight the pressure being felt by so many across rural England.