Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) continues to be an expensive lifeline for many off-gas grid UK homes. In particular, those who cannot get connected to the mains gas grid are particularly dependent on LPG to cook and heat their homes. Thousands of families are reportedly struggling with prohibitive costs, as the price of LPG is not controlled under the UK’s energy price cap. That’s curious, considering it’s widely used.
The UK energy price cap is a regulatory measure designed to protect consumers by limiting how much suppliers can charge for conventional home energy. Their national regulator, Ofgem, controls this market to keep electricity and natural gas prices low and competitive. This cap should not apply to LPG, however. Consequently, because of this regulatory void, users risk expensive and unpredictable charges.
Liquid Gas UK, the LPG industry’s trade association, offers an easy-to-use supplier locator. This tool helps people, especially the poor, to identify cheaper LPG alternatives. It’s a free service that enables people to input their postcode and find out who their cheapest local supplier is. This tool provides that relief. It shouldn’t substitute for the LPG price-regulation necessary to ensure consumers affordable access to LPG.
Unfortunately, the high cost of LPG presents an expensive hurdle for many off-grid households in the UK. The Competition and Markets Authority has authority over the larger fuel market. Without clear price caps on LPG, most families remain in deep economic peril. For anyone attempting to advance beyond costly, dirty fossil fuels, the Nest service offers a welcome means of assistance.
The Nest service offers information and assistance to households eager to transition from costly heating systems. It provides direct links to available grants and loans. These tools and resources can ease the financial burden of transitioning to cleaner, safer, more efficient energy sources.