Energy Savings Trust - Free Help and Advice on 0300 123
1234
The general number to call for free help and impartial advice is
the through the Energy Savings Trust on 0300 123 1234. The helpline
is open:
- Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm
- Saturday 10am to 2pm
Information can also be accessed at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/
If you cannot be helped by any of the schemes listed below, the
EST advice line may be able to offer alternatives.
Cumbria Warm Homes Project
This project has been established by all of the local
authorities in Cumbria to deliver the following benefits:
- Improving the Energy Efficiency of Cumbrian Homes
- Helping Households to Reduce their Fuel Bills
- Maximising Household Income
More details on the project and a wide range of advice and
leaflets to download can be found at:
http://www.cumbriawarmhomes.org.uk/
Home Heating Cost Reduction Obligation
This has replaced the Warm Front Scheme,
which ended on 19th January 2013.
This is new grant funding and is available
now. It replaces the old Warm Front heating grants, and all
other insulation grant schemes. It is intended to provide up front
support for measures which will help households to heat their homes
more affordably.
It is available in private tenures only (i.e. not to social
housing tenants), to people receiving one of the following:
- State Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit (income iunder £15,860)
- Child Tax Credit (income under £15,860)
- Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
- Income Based Employment and Support Allowance
It can support the installation of the following measures:
- Loft insulation
- Cavity wall insulation
- Solid wall insulation
- Replacement boilers
- Boiler repairs with accompanied after care
- Air & Ground source heat pumps
- District heating
To apply for these measures, call the energy savings line on
0300 123 1234 or apply through the Cumbria Warm Homes web site
http://www.cumbriawarmhomes.org.uk/
Health Through Warmth
NPower have extended their Health Through Warmth Scheme to
cover the whole of England & Wales until December 2014; this
scheme was not originally available in the North
West.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Cold Related Illness
- Homeowner (resident for over 12 months)
- Not Statutory Grant Eligible (or situation very
urgent)
- A low income household with little or no savings
- Unable to fully fund the work themselves
The scheme is discretionary and can contribute to the
costs of:
- Loft and Cavity Wall Insulation
- Gas Fires (repairs and or replacement)
- Storage Heaters (repairs or replacement)
- Central Heating (and other heating repairs)
- Hot Water Tank (repairs or replacement)
Heath Through Warmth Team use their own approved
contractors, and deal with all referrals directly.
Other funding can come from charitable bodies or LA's, or by own
contribution from the householder
For more information go to the Health
Through Warmth website
Hot Spots
If you have a broken or unreliable heating system, and fall into
one of the vulnerable categories above, you may be able to get help
to repair your system through the Warm Homes - Healthy
People Hot Spots project until the end of March 2013. For
further information, contact Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency
(CREA) on 01768 891414, or e-mail christener@crea.co.uk
Winter Warmth Fund
The Winter Warmth Fund uses funding from the Warm Homes
- Healthy People Fund and from voluntary donations to provide
cash assistance with the cost of heating bills to people in certain
priority groups. This fund is administered by Cumbria Community
Foundation, and more information on eligibility and how to apply
can be found on the Cumbria
Community Foundation web site
Green Deal
The Government introduced a new energy efficiency
programme in January 2013. This offers
the installation of energy saving measures at no up front
cost, with the costs being paid back over time through the
resulting savings in energy bills. Green Deal also places
obligations on energy companies to provide support for energy
saving measures in hard to treat homes and for people in fuel
poverty. More details on Green Deal can be found from the
GOV.UK website. In addition to the main Green Deal scheme,
assistance may be available through the Energy Company
Obligation (ECO).
Winterwise
For advice on how to minimise damage to property from burst
water pipes, go to United Utilities' Winterwise web
page.
Changing Fuel Supplier
Householders are now able to change their fuel suppliers, this
competition between utility companies means customers have more
choice, and are able to take advantage of lower tariffs and better
services. Whilst also encouraging these companies to offer more
competitive packages to their customers including dual fuel tariffs
- whereby households can purchase both gas and electricity from the
same supplier.
Here are a few tips if you want to change supplier or if you
are wondering what it means for you as a customer:
- You do not have to change from your current fuel supplier.
- If you do change you will not need new wires, pipes or meters,
the existing ones will be used.
- Utility companies now use advertising campaigns on TV, radio
and in newspapers to encourage customers to move from one supplier
to another.
- If you want to change you should contact the supplier you want
to change to, they will draw up a contract for you to sign and will
notify your old fuel supplier.
- In order to change a meter reading will be taken.
If you have any other queries or require further information
please contact the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets:
OFGEM,
9 Millbank,
London,
SW1P 9GE.
Tel : 020 7901 7000
Energy Information for children:
Energy Quest: hwww.energyquest.ca.gov/index.html
- Californian Energy Commission - site for young people. Colourful
and informative, with lots of energy information, puzzles, stories,
jokes and even an art gallery! Well worth a 'hit' by children and
adults alike.