Lib Dems - lack of access to gas grid leaves residents with higher bills

Figures released this week reveal that 32,000 households across Cumbria don't have access to the gas grid. Eden has the highest proportion of households that aren't connected to the grid in all of England. South Lakes MP Tim Farron and the Lib Dem candidate in Copeland Rebecca Hanson have called for more to be done to get households connected and tackle the high cost of fuel.

The statistics released by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy show that Eden and South Lakeland have the two highest proportions of off-grid households in the North West. In Eden there are an estimated 12,000 off-grid households. This represents 54% of total households, meaning it is the least connected local authority in England. South Lakeland has 7000 off grid households, representing 15% of the total. A further 2000 households are unconnected in Copeland, representing 6% of all households.

According to the This is Money website, "The cost of heating a typical three-bedroom house is around 50 per cent higher with heating oil and 100 per cent higher with LPG than the mains gas."

Tim said: "This isn't just a technical issue - not being connected to the gas grid hits local residents through higher prices. At the moment, some areas of Cumbria are among the least-connected in the country. The government should invest in the gas grid to get more households connected and help local residents save on their bills. I am also urging residents to look at creating off-grid buying cooperatives, which could help cut their bills significantly."

Rebecca Hanson, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Copeland, commented:

"Here in Copeland, we are on Britain's energy coast yet there are thousands of residents paying through the nose to heat their homes. The government should be doing more to support households and make sure suppliers are giving residents the best deal. Anything that can be done to bring down the cost of fuel will help off-grid households stay warm this winter."