HOUSEHOLDS in Tenbury reliant on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for their heating could save hundreds of pounds on their fuel bill.

With winter approaching it is claimed that people who use this kind of heating could save hundreds of pounds.

It is claimed that residents could cut between 20 and 30 per cent from their annual fuel costs thanks to the partnership, run by the council and Lister Gases, which offers Malvern Hills residents a significant discount on the cost of buying LPG from other suppliers.

There are currently 60 homes signed up to the agreement with some of those saving about £700 a year when compared to buying their LPG by themselves from other sources.

For instance in August some people paid just under 27 pence per litre against an average price of 35 pence per litre.

There are two prices available, one for those that use more than 2,500 litres a year and those who use less. Prices are linked to an industry benchmark figure which changes depending on the wholesale cost, so prices can go up as well as down.

With Malvern Hills District Council scheme is that when wholesale prices fall, the reduction is automatically passed on without any need to renegotiate with the supplier.

The scheme was first introduced in November 2013 and due to the strong interest in it, the council has negotiated a new deal which will drive prices down even further.

It is part of the council’s efforts to reduce fuel poverty in the district, particularly amongst the third of households whose properties are not connected to the mains gas or electricity network.

Latest government figures show fuel poverty is falling in Malvern Hills District with 2,644 fewer households spending more than 10 per cent of their income on heating their home in 2012 compared to 2010.

“This is a fantastic scheme which will give residents in our rural communities the opportunity to save money without having to turn the heating down,” said Councillor Melanie Baker, portfolio holder for planning and housing on Malvern Hills District Council.

“We’ve made tackling fuel poverty a priority and this scheme is one of a number of actions we have taken. But while it’s encouraging to see the number of households in fuel poverty falling we want to cut that figure even further.”