Scots gran with dementia plunged into fuel poverty after 400% heating bill hike (2025)

Linda Chalmers, 71, paid hugely-inflated bills for several months amid a year-long dispute over the shared heat network in her Edinburgh social housing development.

A Scots gran with dementia was plunged into “fuel poverty” after she was hit with a more than 400% hike in her heating bills, her family said yesterday.

Linda Chalmers, 71, discovered the price rise after £10 in her meter lasted just a day and has paid hugely-inflated bills for several months amid a year-long dispute over the shared heat network in her Edinburgh social housing development.

The pensioner’s family say she was left choosing between warmth and other essentials during the winter and called for a social tariff protecting vulnerable people using shared systems.

Linda’s son David, 48, said: “Prices were increased by 420% almost overnight. It is a disgrace.

“This consigned elderly and vulnerable people to despair and fuel poverty.

“My mum’s pension didn’t rise to meet these costs, leaving her facing the harsh choice between being cold or trapped in fuel poverty.

“This has been a source of constant worry that my mum can really do without.

“There should be a social tariff for vulnerable people and people on district heat networks should be covered.”

Residents in Greendykes have their homes heated by shared heat networks commonly used in blocks of flats - which are not subject to the Ofgem price cap. They are unable to switch suppliers as they are supplied energy via their social landlord, who purchases it on the commercial market.

At the start of next year, Ofgem will begin regulating heat networks in England, Scotland and Wales.

Landlord Places for People told us the dispute, which began in April last year, was a result of a long-running, low-rate deal with an energy supplier coming to an end.

It said it had frozen bills for four months when the deal ended and had secured a new tariff which has seen bills slashed again by 50% in recent days.

But David said his mum and other residents had suffered the price hike for eight months.

He said: “The trust is gone now between residents and the social landlord. I don’t trust them to deal with this properly.

“They claim to be a socially responsible landlord yet heating prices have increased by more than 400% for elderly and vulnerable individuals.”

Places for People Scotland said they had “great sympathy” with customers over the rise in their bills.

A spokeswoman said: “The tariff customers were paying for five years between the start of 2019 and the start of 2024 was one of the lowest in the country because we had secured it for the long-term, and so avoided the huge rises felt by others in their energy bills. This meant last year’s tariff was always going to increase when that contract expired, and prices moved more in line with the current market.

“We are pleased to confirm we have secured a new heat tariff for all customers this year, which is almost 50% lower than the previous one.

“We completely understand the pressures people face and anyone who is struggling to meet costs so we always encourage Customers to contact us so we can offer help.

“We are supportive of the regulation of heating networks coming into place this year and know it will give customers greater confidence.”

Charity Advice Direct Scotland has offered support to Linda and her neighbours.

Chief executive Andrew Bartlett said: “We deeply understand the anxiety and stress that rising heating costs can cause.

“Many people may have questions about heat networks. We know that many people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, are facing difficult choices and uncertainty.

“If you have any questions or concerns about your heating bills, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

“We are committed to providing you with the information and assistance you need to manage your energy costs effectively.”