Dave Biggs, a resident of Kehelland, Cornwall, was faced with a daunting upfront cost ranging from £50,000 to £60,000 in order to upgrade his home for a heat pump installation.
According to Mr. Biggs, the renovation process would have required ripping up the concrete floor of his property to remove the existing microbore pipework, as well as removing the roof tiles for proper insulation.
He expressed his concerns, stating, “My wife is 81. We certainly cannot afford to pay for all of that. Our boiler is already 27 years old, and within the next three years, it won’t be replaceable in case of a catastrophic failure.”
Official figures indicate that approximately 1.7 million individuals reside in rural areas without access to the gas grid.
However, the Countryside Alliance, an organization representing rural homeowners, voiced their opinion on the disproportionate effect of transitioning away from fossil fuels on off-grid households.
James Legge, a member of the Countryside Alliance, stated, “The Government must collaborate with rural communities instead of imposing changes from Whitehall. Affordable alternatives and the necessary infrastructure to support the increasing reliance on electricity are crucial, particularly as we shift towards electric vehicles.”
Additionally, Legge emphasized that the current infrastructure is incapable of accommodating the surge in demand resulting from these changes.
Back in April, it was reported by the Telegraph that off-grid villages could potentially be left behind in the decarbonization efforts, as households were unable to make net zero upgrades due to insufficient electricity supply.
A source from the Energy regulator, Ofgem, warned that there is currently no incentive for energy distributors to invest in rural grids.
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