Liz Saville Roberts calls for housing stock age and energy efficiency to be taken into account
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts has warned that UK Government plans to limit energy bill support could leave Welsh households disproportionately exposed, as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to outline new principles for assistance.
The Chancellor is expected to set out the principles that would guide any future support for households if energy bills rise after the current price cap ends in June, with indications that any package would be targeted rather than universal.
Ms Saville Roberts highlighted the particular vulnerability of rural and off-grid communities across Wales, warning that schemes built primarily around mains gas usage risk excluding thousands of households.
Wales has the oldest housing stock in the UK, with 26% of homes built before 1919. Plaid Cymru have also warned that less energy-efficient housing stock and higher levels of fuel poverty mean Welsh households face greater exposure to price shocks.
Ms Saville Roberts called on the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, to ensure that devolved governments are fully involved in shaping any response to rising energy costs, including through a four-nations summit between the UK and devolved governments.
Plaid Cymru is calling on the UK Government to:
• Guarantee that any support scheme reflects Wales-specific needs, including rural and off-grid households
• Ensure fair access for those in older, less energy-efficient homes
• Convene a four-nations summit to design and deliver support effectively
Ahead of the Chancellor’s statement on Tuesday, Ms Saville Roberts said:
“Any targeted scheme designed around UK averages risks missing the reality of Welsh households, where incomes are lower, homes are older, and energy efficiency is poorer.
“If support is restricted without recognising Wales’ specific circumstances, households will lose out.
“Too many UK schemes are designed with the gas grid in mind, yet large parts of rural Wales rely on oil or alternative fuels. Without proper recognition of this, many families will be overlooked entirely. The support already announced for off-grid homes will simply not meet the level of need.
“You cannot design a fair system without accounting for the fact that many Welsh homes are harder and more expensive to heat. A one-size-fits-all approach will not deliver fairness.
“It is also worth noting that residents in North Wales and Mersey are subject to the highest standing charges across the entire UK. My constituents are having to pay almost £100 more a year than those living in London so I would urge the Chancellor, once again, to look at and address unfair standing charges. People shouldn’t be paying more for their energy bills simply because of where they live.
“Decisions taken in Westminster have very different consequences in Wales. If the UK Government is serious about fairness, it must work with devolved governments to ensure support reflects the realities on the ground. That is why Plaid Cymru has called for a four-nations summit to agree a joint approach.
“This is a test of whether ministers understand how their decisions land in different parts of the UK. A policy that ignores Welsh circumstances is not fair, and it will leave people here paying the price.”
