Thousands of low-income families will receive help from the Scottish Government to reduce their energy bill costs.

Wind Turbines: Clean, green energy machines. (416style/Flickr)

The Scottish Government today expanded their Energy Assistance Package initiative, which helps families to get new central heating systems, home insulation and green energy devices. It is open to low-income families who have children under 16, and also to those who receive a range of benefits, including tax credits.

Families participating in the scheme have saved an average of £860 yearly on electricity bills.

John Dickie of the Children’s Fuel Poverty Coalition in Scotland said:

“This extension of support to help more struggling families heat their homes is very welcome. Tackling fuel poverty amongst families is an important part of the drive to eradicate child poverty once and for all. No child should ever have to be cold at home.

“However we should not be complacent. The key challenge is to ensure that families who are now eligible are aware of this new support and take advantage of it. There’s still much to do to ensure that all fuel poor families are supported if fuel poverty is to be eradicated.”

The Fuel Poverty Forum, set up by the Scottish Government to eradicate fuel poverty,  has also been asked by Ministers to investigate extending the scheme to the chronically ill and cancer patients.