It is part of Ofgem’s new trial to extend the Warm Home Discount scheme, which offers a rebate towards consumers’ electricity bills.

It was launched in a bid to reduce fuel poverty and the impact of rising energy prices on low income and vulnerable households.

Consumers living in park homes typically do not have a contract with any energy supplier and they have historically been excluded from receiving any concessions.

The ‘Park Home Industry Initiative’ trial scheme is offering them the £140 rebate towards electricity bills.

It comes after DECC changed the rules in early 2015 to ensure the opportunity if provided to help park home residents.

Energy efficiency consultancy AgilityEco has been appointed by Ofgem for the trial which will run until the end of March 2016.

Gearoid Lane, CEO of AgilityEco said: “It is a really important first step in a process to ensure that nearly 160,000 people without direct connection to the electricity grid are able to apply for the same level of WHD as those who are.

“Park home residents are often elderly, vulnerable to adverse weather conditions and their homes are likely to be thermally inefficient. Their heating bills are typically very high as park homes are usually heated by expensive fuels such as bottled gas and electricity. This results in a high incidence of fuel poverty amongst park home residents. £140 of WHD support, combined with energy efficiency advice, will make a big difference for many hard-pressed residents.”

If successfully completed, the trial could be scaled up to a full national roll-out subject to the government’s final scheme design and funding commitment from energy suppliers.

Ngoc Diep (The Energy Live News)