SUPPORT and assistance for energy saving measures will be available in the Wee County after councillors approved a scheme last week.

The LA Flex initiative works as part of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), placed upon the Big Six to help private households reduce their bills and carbon emissions.

A portion of targets set out under the obligation, brought forward by the UK Government, can be achieved with local authorities under the ECO Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) mechanism and councillors agreed to a Statement of Intent, necessary to support the initiative.

It means that the council will work with energy companies to identify households eligible for the installation of measures.

Funding will be available to fuel poor private sector households, not council tenants.

A part of the mechanism will require a declaration from the council for each individual home, putting a degree of control into the local authority’s hands.

This is important as civil servants at last week’s Place Committee meeting, where the scheme was approved, highlighted that some householders had been “ripped off” in the past through other initiatives.