Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has highlighted the price discrimination faced by Stirling residents who are supplied by off-grid gas and is calling for suppliers to pass on savings to customers.
In Stirling, an estimated 6,900 households or 18% are not connected to the gas network.
Analysis by the independent House of Commons Library shows that the average cost of heating a typical three bedroom house with LPG gas is twice the price of mains gas.
Off-grid oil customers have benefitted from recent price falls as have mains gas users and now Murdo wants off-grid gas households to feel the benefits as well. Calor Gas has indicated that they are in the process of revising tariffs for off-grid gas consumers.
Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“In Stirling nearly 20% of all households are served by something other than mains gas and these customers are rightly concerned about their heating bills.
“Oil and mains gas customers have seen their bills fall as a result of stuttering global prices and it is high-time off-grid customers received the same boost.
“Residents who are off-grid can pay nearly twice as much as people who are connected to the mains supply and providers must treat customers equally and pass on any savings.
“The Conservative led UK Government has announced a £25 million fund for the installation of central heating for off-grid households and is working with the industry on a new code of practice.
“As long as off-grid supply remain more expensive and less reliable than mains gas, I would like to see a drive to connect more properties in the Perth and Kinross area to mains supply.”