‘Ogmore’s AM and MP say “act in the summer to stay warm next winter”
Ogmore’s Assembly Member Janice Gregory and MP Huw Irranca–Davies visited the Bridgend Show at the weekend and used the occasion to urge local people to call the Home Heat Helpline – which offers free help and advice to people concerned about paying their energy bills.
They were helping to raise awareness among local people that it isn’t too soon to think ahead to next winter’s electricity and gas bills. Residents were urged to call the Home Heat Helpline this summer on 0800 33 66 99 in order to prepare their home for the winter to come.
Mrs Gregory and Mr Irranca-Davies discussed energy bills with visitors to the Show, and the problems many encounter in paying them - especially during the colder winter months. But they said many people could avoid difficulties by taking action now. One call to the free phone Helpline can provide people with advice on cutting fuel bills and access to grants to insulate their homes for free.
Mrs Gregory said: “I am concerned that there may still be a large number of local people who are entitled to help with improving their heating and energy efficiency of their homes who have not asked for it and so have not received any help yet. By ringing the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 during this summer they may still be able to have improvements made in time to benefit and keep warm next winter.”
Although some people in the borough are already making use of the helpline, research has shown that this is one of the areas in Wales where people are least likely to take advantage of the free help and advice available. According to recent findings, just eight per cent of calls from Wales to the helpline have come from people living here.
Huw Irranca – Davies MP said: “This summer is an ideal opportunity to have a good look at household energy bills and entitlement to help with energy efficient measures at home. Ringing the Home Heat Helpline this summer will help people get ahead of the queue for next winter.“
Duncan Sedgwick, chief executive, Energy Retail Association said:
“Many vulnerable people in Ogmore are already benefiting from the help and advice the Helpline (0800 33 66 99) provides - but we know there are many more out there who could stand to benefit. Just one free call to the Helpline is all it takes.
“I’d urge people in the area concerned about their fuel bills to contact the Helpline today. I’d also encourage anyone with relatives or friends who they think could benefit to call the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) on their behalf or pass the number on and get them to call.”
The Home Heat Helpline, which is funded by Britain’s energy suppliers, aims to help vulnerable customers who are worried about their bills. The helpline is the only service for all customers who have difficulties with heating their homes or paying for their energy bills no matter who their energy supplier is. It is staffed by expert advisors, including former health professionals who are trained to give advice on how to stay warm during cold weather. The Helpline can also take calls from intermediaries calling on behalf of vulnerable people, such as friends, family, carers, social workers or health visitors.
Ends
Notes to Editors
For more information please contact Gwyn Thomas on 02920 555505
or Home Heat Helpline Campaign Manager Oliver Wright on 020 7747 5436, oliver.wright@energy-retail.org.uk
1. To help those worried about heating their homes the Helpline has produced a range of guides for consumers, charities and advice groups. These include digital guides that can be downloaded from the Home Heat Helpline website (www.homeheathelpline.org) which contain information and advice on insulating homes properly, making sure homes are as energy efficient as possible and providing information on how people can register for extra services to ensure they are warm for next winter.
2. The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) operates from Monday to Friday 9am-8pm and from 10am-2pm on Saturday. There is a free minicom number for deaf users (0800 027 2122), and the Helpline also has access to interpreters for those callers whose first language is not English. www.homeheathelpline.org
3. The Helpline is operated by The essentiagroup and is staffed by expert advisers, including former health professionals, who are trained to give advice on how to stay warm during the cold weather. They are also trained and authorised to deal with intermediaries calling on behalf of vulnerable customers, such as friends, carers, social workers or health visitors
4. The Energy Retail Association was established in October 2003 and is the only dedicated trade association for domestic energy suppliers in the UK. More information can be found at www.energy-retail.org.uk
5. The Home Heat Helpline, launched in October 2005, is a free service for all customers in Great Britain and is funded by the six major domestic energy suppliers. It is the only telephone helpline service that aims to tackle fuel poverty. Since 2003 the six major energy suppliers have spent over £1 billion on energy saving schemes that support vulnerable households. In addition, they spend a further £100 million per year on their various voluntary company initiatives that tackle fuel poverty. The industry is fully committed to playing its part in this important issue and may spend even more on this over the next three years.
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