District heating systems suggested as a solution to fuel poverty in Dumfries and Galloway

Concerned councillors are continuing to turn up the heat on the powers-that-be to help people struggling with fuel poverty in Dumfries and Galloway.
The local authority was last week finalising a “statement of intent” to bring in extra government funding that could help private property owners and tenants with energy efficiency improvements in their homes.
However, elected members called for further action – and a special report to be produced exploring ways the council can support more residents plunged into fuel poverty during the cost of living crisis.
One suggestion that cropped up was the introduction of district heating systems that multiple homes run on and lead to cheaper energy bills.
District heating systems connect a large number of homes and are usually provided by a large central boiler house, underground distribution pipes, and plant rooms on an estate, which provide hot water all year and heating in the colder months.
Leeds City Council this month received £3.06m in government funding to extend its district heating system to provide low carbon heating in new buildings in the city.
The energy crisis was discussed at the council’s economy and resources committee last week where Stranraer and the Rhins Councillor Willie Scobie said: “I think there’s opportunity here with publishing a statement of intent in terms of district heating systems and so forth.
“And even more so as we move further and further into the cost of living crisis where some people will just not be able to turn on their heating, and we may suffer the consequences of that.”
Council officer Jamie Little, head of the strategic housing investment and regeneration team, said: “There is a requirement to develop a local heating and energy strategy by the council by 2023 that includes both commercial and residential properties, and the ways we’re going to set out our efforts to tackle the climate emergency.
“Clearly within that we need to be considering issues around fuel poverty.”
With annual energy bills set to rise from an average of £1,971 to £4,200, researchers say that around 66 per cent of families will fall under the definition of fuel poverty by January – spending more than 10 per cent of their net income on energy.
By comparison, only 19 per cent of British households were considered fuel-poor in 2019-20.
Councillor Scobie said: “I think we need to be pushing ahead with this and maybe get a further report in terms of how we’re going to do things in terms of district heating systems, and how we’re going to tackle fuel poverty.”
Annandale East and Eskdale Councillor Archie Dryburgh, chairman of the committee, called for a report from council officers that focuses solely on ways to tackle fuel poverty for the region.