A TRADE body is calling on the government to take action to help Cheshire residents living in fuel poverty. 

OFTEC, the UK trade body for the oil heating industry, is calling on the government to help the 9,000 households in Cheshire who use oil to heat their homes.

They are disproportionately affected because rural households are typically older properties with significantly lower energy efficiency ratings compared to urban housing.

However, households on oil have been benefiting from a UK average £500 fall in the price of oil over the last two years with the cost of heating a typical three bedroom home now £201 less than mains gas, according to industry data.

The figures from DECC also show that the gap between what those in fuel poverty can afford to pay and the actual cost of their fuel bills is £374 on average.

With oil now £701 less expensive than LPG and £714 less than electric storage heaters, households on oil can expect to make significant savings and bridge this gap.

Malcolm Farrow of OFTEC, said: “It is shocking that in 2015 fuel poverty is still such a serious issue, particularly for rural households. Homes using oil are currently benefiting from a huge fall in the price of oil so homeowners who switch to oil from more expensive forms of heating can expect to see long term savings.”

In response to the findings, OFTEC is calling on the government to support households in fuel poverty who are trying to improve their energy efficiency by reintroducing a boiler scrappage scheme to enable people to upgrade to more efficient boilers and providing better incentives for upgrading home insulation.

Malcolm added: “The government needs to be doing far more to support homeowners trying to reduce their fuel bills and we have written to MPs in rural constituencies in the county, calling on them to urge the government to take action.”