Reducing your energy bills
- All households who are found to be in fuel pover
- All households on certain benefits
- Free central heating measures will be available, subject to need, location and available funding, for: households who are found to be in fuel poverty or on certain qualifying benefits
- Free benefits advice and support to help increase household income is also available, together with free energy advice to help save unnecessary household spending
For households that don’t qualify for free measures, Warm Zones can offer significant discounts on insulation. To find out more about Warm Zones check their website at www.warmzones.co.uk or email enquiries@warmzones.co.uk or write to
Warm Zones Ltd 4 Floor Block C Scottish Life House Archbold Terrace Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1DBIf you are concerned about paying your energy bills contact:
The Home Heat Helpline 0800 33 66 99
The Home Heat Helpline is a free service offering practical energy advice for people concerned about paying their energy bills. The Home Heat Helpline can also connect you to the right person at your energy supplier to help with any queries you have about bill payments and benefit entitlements. The Home Heat Helpline is open 9am–8pm Monday to Friday and 9am–3pm on Saturdays. Call 0800 33 66 99 or use the minicom: 0800 027 2122. You can call yourself or on behalf of a relative, friend or patient or someone you may be concerned about. For more information about the home Heat helpline visit www.homeheathelpline.org.uk
If you live in Scotland contact
The Energy Savings Trust about the Energy Assistance Package 0800 512 012
The Energy Assistance Package is a package to help maximise incomes, reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of households in Scotland. The Energy Savings Trust delivers of the package on behalf of the Scottish Government.
- Stage one offers free expert energy advice to anyone who phones the Energy Savings Scotland Advice Centre (ESSAC) network on 0800 512 012
- Stage two provides benefits and tax credit checks and advice on low cost energy tariffs to those at risk of fuel poverty
- Stage three provides a package of standard insulation measures (cavity wall and loft insulation) to older households and those on one of a range of benefit
- Stage four offers a package of enhanced energy efficiency measures to those who are most vulnerable to fuel poverty
You can find out more at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/scotland/Scotland-Welcome-page/At-Home/Energy-Assistance-Package or by calling 0800 512 012.
The Energy Saving Trust also runs the home insulation scheme for households in Scotland affordable warmth for all; identifying effective solutions which can transform cold, damp houses into warm, dry homes; researching fuel poverty and related issues in order to provide in-depth understanding of the causes and effects and to promote best practice; and securing public and private investment in domestic energy efficiency initiatives.
If you live in Wales contact
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme – 0800 316 2815
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) offers grants to people in Wales to make their home warmer, more energy efficient, safer and more secure. You may be able to get a new or improved central heating system, loft insulation, draught proofing or other insulation measures up to the value of £3, 600 or £5,000 if you are not on the main gas network. Your circumstances may make you eligible for HEES through more than one category. However, you can only get one HEES grant. Householders who either have a child aged under 16 or are pregnant and have been given maternity certificate MAT B1 and are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits should be eligible:
- Income support
- Council Tax Benefit
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based job Seekers Allowance
- Child Tax Credit (providing your income is less than £15,460)
- Working Tax Credit (providing your income is less than £15,460)
Social tenants can also apply for grant funding for energy efficiency measures. For more information and application form visit www.heeswales.co.uk. You can also contact HEES Wales on 0800 316 2815
If you are not eligible for assistance from any of the organisations mentioned contact
Your energy supplier
All gas and electricity suppliers have ‘Carbon Emissions Reduction Targets’ (CERTs) which they implement by offering energy efficiency measures to their consumers, often at a reduced price. Contact your supplier to see what energy efficiency measures they can offer you for free or at a reduced price.
Other energy saving measures you can take
Energy efficiency appliances
Another way you can reduce your energy bills is by chosing an energy efficiency appliance, the more efficient a product is, the less electricity it uses resulting in lower energy bills for you. When you buy a new appliance look for an energy efficiency label, by law, the European Community Energy Label must be displayed on new household products. Appliances are labeled A to G, a rated appliances are the most energy efficient.
The European Law applies to:
- Refrigerators, freezers and fridge-freezer combinations
- Washing machines
- Electric tumble dryers
- Combined washer-dryers
- Dishwashers
- Lamps
- Electric ovens
- Air conditioners
