Mick Bates turns up the heat on Minister as HEES goes under review

9.46.16am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 18th Jul 2008

As the Assembly Government undertakes to review the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme, Montgomeryshire AM Mick Bates urges the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government to move with the times and include renewable technologies under the scheme, to benefit low income households living in fuel poverty as well as support the use of microgeneration technologies across homes in Wales.

Commenting Mick Bates AM: "Over a year ago the Minister promised to consider the potential for introducing renewable technologies into the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES), which would not only help reduce fuel poverty but also help reach our targets for Microgeneration. Unsurprisingly the Labour-Plaid Assembly Government is failing to show a great sense of urgency and renewable technologies are still not available under this scheme.

"The Labour-Plaid Government is lagging behind the times, offering grants of £5k under HEES towards an outdated and carbon dependent oil fired heating system, whilst there is no provision for wood fuel systems at all. Meanwhile the Low Carbon Building Programme provides just £1500 towards a wood fired boiler.

"It is shocking that the Welsh Assembly has failed to provide for renewable technologies under the HEES programme. Renewable technologies such as wood burners are tried and tested. If they are given support under the Low Carbon Building Program, then clearly they would provide a huge benefit to those on low incomes living in fuel poverty and should be included within HEES. This is a missed opportunity not only to tackle fuel poverty in Wales but also to increase the use of green technologies to heat our home.

"There is still much to be done to tackle rising fuel poverty in Wales, as there are currently over 243,000 households living in fuel poverty across the country. This is a serious issue for millions of families and individuals as it brings poor health, isolation, debt and worry. In this day and age, no one should have to spend a winter without affordable heat for their home.

"I have written to the Minister to request more support for people wishing to shift to a more environmentally sound and financially viable energy supply. I hope that the Labour-Plaid Government will review its priorities and take the common sense approach to include renewable technologies under the HEES scheme, so that we don't miss out on this golden opportunity."