The Welsh Liberal Democrats have criticised delays by the UK Government in rolling out a scheme designed to support people living in off-grid homes.

The Conservative minister responsible for energy bill support has announced that off-grid households will not receive any help with their spiralling bills until at least 2023, despite MPs from all parties calling for urgent action throughout 2022.

The UK Government is also yet to establish the full details of how hard-hit residents will be able to access the help they need due to taking months to develop what has been described as an “over-complicated and under-generous” scheme.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been campaigning for a price cap on heating oil and LPG to ease the pressure on the many families in rural Wales living off the national gas grid.

In Powys, the estimated number of homes not connected to the gas grid is a staggering 55 per cent.

Graham Stuart, the Minister for Energy and Climate, revealed the delay to off-grid support in a letter to MPs this week.

Jane Dodds, Lib Dem Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales said: “Families across my region and other rural parts of Wales are desperately in need of support with their energy bills which haven’t been protected by a price cap like those on the national grid.

“For months upon months the Conservatives failed to act and now they are delaying action again. It isn’t good enough. Especially as the majority of Welsh Conservative MPs and MSs represent rural areas.

“The Liberal Democrats will continue to call for a price cap on heating oil and LPG to be introduced. Rural communities have been taken for granted by the Conservatives for far too long.”

Liberal Democrat Candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire David Chadwick said: “This latest delay is yet more evidence that our Conservative MP is failing to use their influence to fight for the interests of our residents.

“People off the grid face going cold over the winter down to sheer inaction from the Conservative Party, a party that used to represent rural areas but clearly no longer does so.

“Powys needs strong voices representing it in Parliament, willing to raise these issues again and again until someone listens.”