Financial support for off grid households in Scotland is set to more than double, as the Scottish Government moves to ease pressure on families facing rising energy costs.
The announcement has been welcomed by SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson Graham Leadbitter, who said the move would bring meaningful help to rural communities often overlooked in national policy.
Across parts of the Highlands and north east, reliance on heating oil and other off grid energy sources remains significantly higher than the national average.
In Mr Leadbitter’s Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency, around 44% of homes are off grid, compared to 19% across Scotland and 15% across the UK mainland.
That gap has left many households more exposed to price volatility, with fewer protections than those connected to the mains gas network.
Graham Leadbitter said:
“This is fantastic news and shows the Scottish Government is on the side of rural households who, through no fault of their own, face absolutely staggering energy bills.
“People in Burghead, Roseisle, and Badenoch and Strathspey, are far more likely than most places to be reliant on off-grid energy but have been completely forgotten about and cast aside by Westminster.
“The SNP has consistently called on the UK government to step up and help local households, but when support finally came it was far too little.
“This intervention from the SNP will more than double the financial support available to people who are struggling and go some way towards securing a decent deal for energy in what is still a cold time for many parts of the country.”
The issue of off grid energy has become a defining challenge for many rural and island communities, where geography and infrastructure limit access to alternative options.
Mr Leadbitter added:
“The SNP is showing what we can achieve with just the limited powers available to the Scottish Parliament.
“With full control over our energy wealth with independence we could go even further by using our resources to benefit our communities significantly cutting energy bills altogether.
“While one government in Westminster pays mere lip service in addressing this energy cost crisis I know many people will appreciate we have another in Edinburgh actually stepping up to the plate to deliver for people.”
The move highlights ongoing political divisions over how best to tackle energy costs, particularly in areas where traditional support mechanisms do not always reach.
For households across the Highlands, the increase in support offers some relief, though the wider challenge of long term energy affordability remains.
Support for off grid homes in Scotland is being increased as pressure grows on rural households facing high energy costs, with calls continuing for longer term solutions to protect communities across the Highlands.
