Households in rural parts of Scotland will be offered cheap to run, 'plug in' energy to help cut household fuel bills.

Grants of up to £6500 are being made available through the Scottish Government's £60 million Energy Assistance Package, to install low-carbon air source heat pumps for people who normally have to rely on oil or solid fuels.

The technology generates at least 2.5 times as much energy as it consumes and works in temperatures as low as -15C powering heating and hot water all year round - and lowering carbon emissions.

Visiting the Mitsubishi plant in Livingston today, where the pumps are being manufactured, Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "The help available through the Energy Assistance Package is second to none in helping people who are struggling with rising fuel bills.


"For people in rural areas who are often hit by even higher fuel costs, help like this is particularly important, especially at this time of year.

"We want to get the message out that everyone can benefit from this scheme, in one way or another, and I would encourage anyone who is struggling with fuel bills to pick up the phone."

Since the launch of the Energy Assistance Package in April, over 25,000 households in Scotland have been given energy savings advice.

In the last month, nearly 500 households have been moved to cheaper social tariffs and over 500 have received help to get all the benefits they are entitled to, increasing household income by, on average, 1,200 pounds a year.

John Kellett, General Manager of Mitsubishi Electric Heating Systems said: "We have invested 2.5million pounds on additional test facilities at Livingston and increased our resources both for labour and equipment specifically focused on manufacturing heating units for the UK and Europe.

"This order for air source heat pumps by the Scottish Government also helps broadcast the technology as the major viable, mass market alternative to gas and oil heating."

(GK/BMcC)