Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assistance the Government is offering rural communities to connect to mains gas supplies where no such infrastructure currently exists.

Ofgem, the regulator for the gas and electricity markets, administers two schemes that assist customers wishing to connect to the gas grid.

All households are eligible for the Domestic Load Connection Allowance if they are situated within 23 metres of an existing gas distribution network. The cost of the first ten metres of connection on public land is borne by the gas network operator.

The Assisted Gas Connection Scheme is aimed at consumers who live in fuel poverty. Ofgem announced earlier this year that they would continue with the scheme for the 2013-2021 price control period, with an objective to connect 80,000 new vulnerable households to the gas network. The amount of money available for each connection is capped at a level set by Ofgem to ensure cost-effectiveness of the scheme.