Managing Your Bills
It is important to find the best deal based on your needs. Many people are reluctant to switch supplier and may be paying way over the odds for their gas and electricity.
There are a number of price comparison companies that can help you to find the best deal for you and all of them have different offers. For advice on which price comparison companies have signed up to the Consumer Focus code of practice to bring you the best offers around and for information about the code of practice click on the following link:
Reducing Consumption – Energy efficiency measures
Using energy more efficiently can also help reduce your bills significantly. The organisations below can help provide help and advice on the products and grants available:
Energy Savings Trust
EST encourages the use of cleaner, sustainable energy and energy efficiency. Their website has free and impartial advice to help you reduce bills and save energy.
This includes all aspects of domestic energy saving – including a free home energy check tailored to your needs – and information on energy home improvement grants/offers currently available.
Contact your local Energy Efficiency Advice Centre on Freephone 0800 512 012
Energy Savings Trust (Head Office)
21 Dartmouth Street
London
SW1H 9BP
Website: www.est.org.uk/myhome
EAGA
EAGA runs the government-funded Warmfront Scheme. Consumers can benefit from grants of up to £2,700, which can make your home warmer, healthier and cheaper to heat.
If you’re not on the mains gas network you may be eligible for a grant of up to £4,000 to install an oil based central heating system.
If you own your home or rent from a private landlord and receive benefits related to income, age or disability, then you could be entitled to the following:
- A new energy saving central heating system in your home, or an upgrade/repairof your existing system
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Draught proofing
- Contact EAGA on Freephone 0800 316 6011
EAGA
Scottish Life House
Archbold Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE2 1BR
Website: www.eagagroup.com
Affordable Warmth Groups
These can be found in many areas, and offer free advice on energy efficiency grants in addition to those provided by EAGA – Warmfront. They can also arrange for the work to be carried out. You can find out if there is an Affordable Warmth Group in your area by ringing your local council (ask for their energy advice section).
Website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/Dl1/Directories/LocalCouncils/fs/en
National Energy Action
Dedicated to eradicating fuel poverty, they work with local councils and many other partner organisations. They are also responsible for overseeing and administering the Warm Zone Scheme.
Warm Zones were set up in certain areas to help households who can’t afford enough warmth for health and comfort. These are called “fuel poor” households. More information about this can be found on the Warm Zones website.
Subject to funding, Warm Zones can provide free or low cost insulation measures to:
All households who are found to be in fuel poverty
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. Currently the scheme covers East London, Gateshead, Hull, Neath Port Talbot, Newham, Newcastle, Northumberland, Sandwell and Stoke. If you live in one of these areas, ring 0191 269 6113 to get contact details.
Website: www.warmzones.co.uk
Scottish Executive Central Heating Programme
This is available to those people aged 60 years or over and who are home owners or rent their home from a private sector landlord (neither Local Authority owned nor Housing Association owned).
The Scottish Executive has extended the Central Heating Programme to include those people aged over 80 years or over, who are home owners or rent their home from a private sector landlord and:
Have a partial heating system or
A system that is inefficient (usually over 20 years old).
For these clients the programme allows their partial systems to be upgraded, where required or a new heating system to be installed.
It now includes those people in receipt of the minimum income guaranteed element of Pension Credit to be eligible if they have a partial or inefficient system.
Central Heating Programme
FREEPOST
SCO4421
Edinburgh
EH6 0BR
Tel: 0800 316 1653
Website: https://www.britishgas.biz/ScottishExecutive/CentralHeatingProgramme.aspx
Warm Deal Programme
An insulation grant of up to £500 of measures is available for home owners and tenants of privately rented properties who are in receipt of benefits. If not in receipt of qualifying benefits but aged 60 years or over, and a home owner or tenant of a privately rented property, you may qualify for a grant of up to £125 for insulation, draught proofing, low energy lightbulbs etc.
Warm Deal
Freepost
SCO4421
Edinburgh
EH6 0BR
Tel: 0800 072 0150
Energy Action Scotland
Energy Action Scotland is the national charity which aims to eliminate fuel poverty by raising awareness of fuel poverty, particularly as it affects low income households; maintaining fuel poverty as a national issue of high priority; and working towards 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.
Energy Action Scotland
Suite 4a
Ingram House
227 Ingram Street
Glasgow G1 1DA
Tel: 0141 226 3064
Fax: 0141 221 2788
email: eas@eas.org.uk
Website: http://www.eas.org.uk/
