Tag: fuel bills

Warm Spaces: A quiet revolution?

Across the UK, through the depths of winter and the Cost of Living Crisis, a movement has been born (writes DAVID BARCLAY).

It’s a quintessentially British kind of movement, powered by an army of volunteers, endless cups of tea and ordinary conversations. As millions of people in the sixth richest country in the world have found themselves unable to heat their own homes, thousands upon thousands of designated ‘Warm Welcome Spaces’ have emerged. And together they are changing the social landscape of our country. 

The Warm Welcome campaign began last summer when senior faith leaders met with former prime minister Gordon Brown to discuss the growing Cost of Living Crisis and the increasingly dire outlook for low income households. In what was almost a throwaway comment, Gordon Brown mentioned that he’d heard of plans for ‘train station waiting room-style heated spaces’ for those unable to pay their energy bills. The room went quiet as the impact of that mental image sunk in. Every person left the meeting determined that something better had to be created. 

Through conversations in the following days and weeks the concept of a ‘Warm Welcome Space’ emerged – somewhere that was free to enter, safe, warm and welcoming. Instead of being prescriptive beyond these basic elements, we decided to trust that local groups knew best what people in their community might need. We build a website, held an online launch event, and then watched in awe as first hundreds and then thousands of groups of every shape and size signed up and got involved – churches, mosques, gurdwaras, libraries, schools, community cafes and many many more. 

For a significant number of these organisations, Warm Welcome has provided a brand and a banner under which to grow and expand their existing activities – extending hours, running new sessions, reaching new parts of the community.

For others it has been a catalyst to try something new – film nights, homework clubs, community meals. The collective impact of these Spaces has been enormous. One woman told the BBC that before she found her local Warm Welcome venue, the only way she could keep warm at home was by staying in bed all day.

Spaces are described by many who use them as a ‘lifeline’. But as well as providing a place of refuge for the cold and hungry, Warm Welcome Spaces have been hubs of community, helping people make connections and build friendships. In doing so they are creating the longer-term social support networks that can sustain people all-year round. They are also often providing the space for intergenerational contact and connection that is increasingly hard to find elsewhere. 

For many of the Warm Welcome Spaces, the experience has been transformational for their own organisation too. Libraries have reinvented themselves as community hubs, attracting families and young people like never before and demonstrating beyond doubt their immense value to the social fabric of their place.

Many churches now have more people attending their Warm Welcome provision than coming along to their Sunday services, inspiring them to reimagine who they exist to serve and how. 

The long-term prospects for Warm Welcome now are fascinating. As well as providing a unifying banner for Warm Spaces, the campaign has raised almost £300k to give out in £1000 microgrants targeted at Spaces in areas of highest deprivation. In doing this, it has created a unique vehicle for funders who want to invest in hyper-local leadership and resilience but at a significant scale.

The Government’s promise to develop a strategy for community spaces and relationships as part of its Levelling Up programme surely can’t fail to focus on what could be done with this now 7000-strong network which is supporting hundreds of thousands of people each week.

And imagine what a programme of work on energy efficiency for Warm Welcome buildings could do, creating huge environmental benefits on our national race to Net Zero whilst boosting the financial resilience of crucial local assets. 

There are also the first signs of Warm Welcome providing a catalyst for systemic change. In Birmingham, Warm Welcome Spaces found a number of people were struggling with issues of damp and mould in their homes. So, they organised themselves to work with the Council, ensuring that all Spaces have access to a senior Council Director who can fast-track cases for a response.

This kind of organising for change is creating a blueprint for other Spaces to work together to listen to and act on the issues facing local people, ensuring that Warm Welcome can go beyond just a short-term practical response to our deep systemic challenges.  

The campaign will change gears at the end of this winter, signposting those who want to carry on running activities to other sources of support. But with the Cost of Living Crisis not showing any signs of abating, preparations will begin immediately for a Warm Welcome campaign that is bigger and better next Winter, nurturing a movement which feels like it is just getting started. 

The outlook for Britain may be bleak in many ways, but Warm Welcome shows that we still have plenty to be hopeful about. When faced with crisis and despair, the community response to the Cost of Living Crisis has been nothing short of heroic. Now it’s up to the rest of society to follow where local people are leading. 

David Barclay is a Partner at Good Faith Partnership, which exists to connect leaders from faith, politics, business and charity on issues of common concern.

He has previously worked as community organiser at the Centre for Theology and Community on the Just Money campaign and founded the Buxton Leadership Programme. He was also previously President of the Oxford Student’s Union.

Downing Street showdown does nothing to address energy cost fears

The Prime Minister, Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and Business and Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng met industry leaders from the electricity sector yesterday to discuss what more they can do to help people struggling with rising energy prices – but the meeting did nothing to resolve the impending crisis.

The Prime Minister, Chancellor, Business and Energy Secretary stressed the need to act in the interest of the country in the face of rising energy prices caused by Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and how vital it was that the Western world continued to stand by the Ukrainian people during their battle for survival.

The Chancellor and energy firms agreed to work closely over the coming weeks to ensure that the public, including vulnerable customers, are supported as unprecedented global events drive higher energy costs.

Government support worth £37 billion is being provided this year to help people with the rising cost of living, including £1,200 for the most vulnerable households over the course of the year and £400 discounted off everyone’s energy bills from October.

It was noted that the market is not always functioning for consumers, and extraordinarily high bills will ultimately damage energy companies.

As set out in the Energy Security Strategy, the Government has launched a consultation to drive forward market reforms and ensure the market works better for consumers. Discussion focussed on how Government and industry can collectively drive forward reforms to ensure the market delivers lower prices.

The Prime Minister, Chancellor and Business and Energy Secretary emphasised the importance of investing in North Sea oil and gas, renewables, biomass and nuclear to strengthen our domestic energy security.

The Chancellor added the Government continues to evaluate the extraordinary profits seen in certain parts of the electricity generation sector and the appropriate and proportionate steps to take.

The Prime Minister set out that it will be for the next Prime Minister to make significant fiscal decisions.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “Countries around the world are feeling the impact of Putin’s damaging war in Ukraine. We know that this will be a difficult winter for people across the UK, which is why we are doing everything we can to support them and must continue to do so.

“Following our meeting today, we will keep urging the electricity sector to continue working on ways we can ease the cost of living pressures and to invest further and faster in British energy security.

“We are continuing to roll out government support over the coming months, including the second £324 instalment of the cost of living payment for vulnerable households, extra help for pensioners and those with disabilities, and the £400 energy bills discount for all households.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nadhim Zahawi, said: “This morning I hosted industry leaders from the electricity sector to discuss what more they can do to work with Government and act in the interest of the country in the face of rising prices caused by Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“We have already acted to protect households with £400 off energy bills and direct payments of £1,200 for 8 million of the most vulnerable British families. In the spirit of national unity, they agreed to work with us to do more to help the people who most need it.”

The meeting was attended by representatives from:

  • EDF
  • RWE
  • E.ON
  • Drax
  • Orsted
  • Uniper
  • National Grid
  • SSE
  • ScottishPower
  • Centrica
  • Octopus Energy
  • Vitol
  • Intergen
  • Greencoat Capital
  • Energy UK

Scottish Government Resilience Room convened to discuss ‘cost emergency’

The First Minister chaired the Scottish Government Resilience Committee yesterday (August 11) to discuss urgent steps to mitigate the growing cost emergency which is affecting people and businesses.

Ministers assessed the current situation and likely scenarios in the months ahead and agreed a number of immediate actions. The Scottish Government will:

  • Continue to maximise the direct financial assistance available to those most in need, principally through ongoing work to extend eligibility for and increase the value of the Scottish Child Payment
  • Undertake an emergency budget review to assess any and all opportunities to redirect additional resources to those most in need, reduce the burdens on business and stimulate the Scottish economy
  • Consider urgently all options within devolved powers for regulatory action to limit increases in costs for people, businesses and other organisations
  • Bring together energy companies, banks and food retailers to examine what further help can be provided by these businesses to limit cost increases and protect those most vulnerable 
  • Work with partners to strengthen the safety net of emergency food/fuel provision, prioritising a ‘cash first’ approach
  • Provide further advice to households on using energy more efficiently and reducing consumption

The Resilience Committee will meet on a weekly basis for the foreseeable future to oversee and direct progress on these immediate actions and keep under ongoing review any further steps that the Scottish Government can take.

In addition to doing everything possible within its powers, the Scottish Government is renewing its call for urgent and substantial action from the UK Government including:

  • An immediate doubling of the direct financial support already provided, with payments made by October. It is estimated that for an out-of-work couple with two children, the payments already announced by the UK Government fall around £1,600 short of meeting the recent changes to benefits and living costs – a gap that must be filled
  • Cancellation of the forthcoming increase in the energy price cap, followed by urgent work between the government and energy companies on energy market reforms and associated financing options to ensure sustainable costs for consumers in the long term
  • The urgent introduction of an energy price cap for Small and Medium Enterprises
  • Support for business to prevent closures due to energy price rises and investment in economic stimulus to minimise the scale of the projected recession
  • A further windfall tax to ensure nationalisation of the profits being made out of the current pressures
  • Additional funding to support public sector pay increases and protect the recovery of public services from the pandemic

The First Minister said: “It is clear that the UK currently faces a rapidly escalating emergency that goes beyond simply the cost of living and is now a more general cost of everything crisis. This emergency may be of a different nature to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is on a similar scale.

“In the absence of substantial and urgent action, this emergency will cause acute deprivation and suffering. It will affect access to practical necessities for millions of people across the UK. Bluntly, it will cost lives.

“To illustrate the severity of the situation, the Scottish Government estimates that, even with current UK Government mitigations, at least 700,000 households in Scotland – 30% of all households – will be living in extreme fuel poverty by October. That number could be even higher, if the Ofgem price cap for October 2022 is above £2,800. 

“It is essential, therefore, that the response from government at every level is commensurate, in scale and speed, to the nature and magnitude of the emergency.

“In developing a response, governments must first and foremost address immediate need. We must all focus on supporting individuals, businesses and jobs by addressing the principal root causes of the problem.

“Scottish Ministers are clear that the powers and resources needed to tackle this emergency on the scale required – access to borrowing, welfare, VAT on fuel, taxation of windfall profits, regulation of the energy market – lie with the UK Government. This is reflected in the actions we have proposed and set out today.

“At the same time, the Scottish Government will continue to do everything within our resources and powers to help those most affected.”

Ofgem demands improvements from energy suppliers on customer direct debits

Energy regulator Ofgem has told a number of energy suppliers to take immediate and urgent action, after a review found a range of weaknesses or failings in the way they charge customers direct debits.

Out of a total of 17 large suppliers in the market, the majority were found to only have minor issues, but five were found to have ‘moderate or severe’ weaknesses with Ofgem demanding immediate action.

This is an initial snapshot of findings and suppliers affected will now have to submit action plans within two weeks to set out how they will take the required actions, which Ofgem will scrutinise for effectiveness and comprehensiveness.

Although we have not found evidence of unjustifiably high direct debits, as an additional reassurance for consumers, the regulator will require all suppliers that increased their customers’ direct debits by more than 100% (impacting over 500,000 customers) to review them.

Where appropriate, Ofgem also expects suppliers to adjust any miscalculations, including making repayments if needed, and consider whether a goodwill payment is warranted.

The review of domestic energy suppliers found that:

  • Over 7 million energy consumers on a Standard Variable Tariff (SVT) saw an increase in their direct debit between February and April 2022
  • On average, direct debit levels for customers on an SVT increased by 62% in this period. Most of this reflects the increased cost of gas*
  • 8% of SVT customers seeing an increase (around 500,000 households) experienced an increase of more than 100% and Ofgem is concerned by this and wants to ensure there is good reason for it (e.g., coming off an SVT, increase in energy use etc)
  •  Evidence that some suppliers’ processes are not as robust as they could be, and that this could lead to inconsistent, incorrect or poor treatment for customers
  • A lack of formally documented policies and processes within some suppliers, which risks inconsistent and poor consumer outcomes.

Ofgem recognises that increases experienced by consumers will differ depending on a range of factors, and that some of these, such as recent tariff changes, high debit balances or recent meter reads, can drive large adjustments to customer direct debits.

But it is for suppliers to ensure that direct debits are set correctly based on all relevant information available, and that they clearly communicate any changes in a way that helps consumers understand their payments.

Jonathan Brearley, Ofgem CEO, said: “We know how hard it is for energy customers at the moment so it’s crucial that the amount they pay each month in direct debits is right so they can manage their money.

“Suppliers must do all they can, especially during the current gas crisis, to support customers and to recognise the significant worry and concern increased direct debits can cause. 

“We know there is some excellent service out there, but we want to make sure that it’s consistent and standard across the board. It’s clear from today’s findings on direct debits that there are areas of the market where customers are simply not getting the service they need and rightly expect in these very difficult times.

 “Today’s findings show that with the urgent changes we are now expecting, the current system will be much fairer for consumers. Bringing down the price of gas is not in Ofgem’s control; however, we will do all we can to have a fair system and ensure suppliers look after their customers.”

The Ofgem assessment divided supplier findings into three groups:

  1. No significant issues (four suppliers)
  2. Minor weaknesses (seven suppliers)
  3. Moderate to severe weaknesses (five suppliers)

Suppliers in the first group, with no significant issues found, are British Gas, EDF, ScottishPower and SO Energy. Our review found that these suppliers generally had robust processes in place, although we did make some recommendations for improvement, and Ofgem will work with these suppliers for continuous improvement. We are asking these suppliers to review customer direct debits to ensure they are correct, as an additional assurance for consumers.

The second group, with minor weaknesses, consisted of Bulb, E.ON, Octopus Energy, Outfox the Market, Ovo, Shell and Utility Warehouse. For this group of suppliers, we identified some weaknesses or gaps in their processes that could lead to poor consumer outcomes.

Examples include lack of documented policies or guidance for staff, potentially not taking account of all relevant factors when setting customer direct debits, or risks that some customers’ direct debits are not assessed when appropriate. We have started compliance engagement with these suppliers to secure improvements.

Suppliers in the third group had moderate to severe weaknesses identified. This group includes Ecotricity, Good Energy, Green Energy UK and Utilita Energy, and covered a spectrum of weaknesses, ranging from inadequately documented or embedded processes, weak governance and controls, to an overall lack of a structured approach to setting customer direct debits.

Ofgem is concerned that in some cases this could lead to customer direct debits being set incorrectly, or not being evaluated for a long time, which can cause the build-up of either unnecessarily large credit balances or debt, depending on whether the customer is under- or overpaying.

Ofgem is starting compliance engagement with these suppliers to drive rapid and robust improvements to processes and reassess customer direct debits where necessary. If these suppliers don’t take action fast enough, Ofgem will consider enforcement action.

Also in this group, with severe weaknesses were TruEnergy and UK Energy Incubator Hub (UKEIH). In both cases we found suppliers did not have a consistent and structured approach to setting customer direct debits, and found severe concerns over the maturity of their processes, putting consumers at a serious risk of inconsistent or poor outcomes, with need for rapid and significant improvement.

To this end, we are considering whether enforcement action is warranted. Since the findings were made, UKEIH have ceased to trade and so we will not pursue any further action against them.

If Ofgem does not see swift and sufficient improvement, as well as redress for consumers where necessary, the regulator will not hesitate to initiate enforcement action against more suppliers, which can include fines, enforcement orders and banning the acquisition of new customers.

  Ofgem has now instructed suppliers to:

·         review the accounts of all customers whose direct debit was increased by 100% or more between 1 February and 30 April 2022, to assess whether the uplift was appropriate

·         adjust any miscalculations and consider whether a goodwill payment is warranted in the circumstances

·         address any process issues which may have incorrectly led to significant increases or other poor consumer outcomes, such as systemic over- or underpayment, and 

·         submit action plans within two weeks to set out how they will take the required actions, which Ofgem will scrutinise for effectiveness and comprehensiveness.

Journalistic website Money Saving Expert (MSE) sent Ofgem a dossier of information earlier this year on the same issue, after it was raised by consumers.

This is all part of the wider work that Ofgem is doing to make the energy market fairer, including a robust recent review into lessons learnt from Storm Arwen, a more frequent and fairer price cap, and most recently, action to improve the financial resilience of companies.

As well as reviewing supplier performance, Ofgem also recently reviewed its own performance, through a wide-ranging report led by independent auditor Oxera.

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “The cost of living remains consumers’ number one priority, yet Which? has heard concerning stories of consumers having their energy direct debits miscalculated or increased by huge amounts, while our research shows many customers are struggling to understand their bills and pricing.

“It’s encouraging to see the regulator taking action over poor performance and Ofgem should not hesitate to impose penalties on any suppliers that fail to make the necessary improvements.

“At a time when consumers are paying more than ever before for energy, the regulator must also work with government and suppliers to explore ways of using data proactively to offer targeted support to those in most need of help before they have to turn to debt charities.

“Which? will seek to work with businesses in energy and other key sectors to find more ways to support consumers through the tough times ahead.”

Energy boss slams Bulb’s ‘free energy’ scheme

Every UK household will have to pay extra on their energy bills in 2022 – just to pick up the tab for more than £130m of FREE energy given out by Britain’s biggest energy failure.

That’s according to Bill Bullen, Founder and CEO of Utilita Energy, who has slammed Bulb’s strategy of giving new customers a £50 free energy credit – and another £50 to friends who referred them – in a bid to drive growth.

He says that Bulb’s “irresponsible approach” to lure in customers from rival suppliers will slap £5 on every domestic energy bill next year – at an estimated total cost of £132m1.

Just days after Ofgem revealed its action plan for improved financial resilience in the sector – effectively a ‘stress test’ for incumbents and new entrants – Bill Bullen is calling for the regulator to review the use of ‘free energy’ referral schemes too. 

 “It is not the fault of Bulb’s customers, but the reality is everyone else will end up paying for Bulb’s irresponsible approach,” he says. 

Bulb has lost tens of millions of pounds since 2015 and is now being run by Government consultants to save it from collapse. Taxpayers are funding this to the tune of an estimated £2bn already. 

Mr Bullen believes the firm’s referral strategy is partly to blame and, worse still, says it encouraged behaviour at odds with the nation’s net zero ambitions.

“Telling customers that energy is free, cheap, or selling it ‘below cost’ is not only unsustainable and irresponsible, but by doing so it encourages consumers to be frivolous with energy. Right now, most homes in the UK waste around 20% of the energy they pay for. This cannot continue.

“To enable consumers to make the right choices for their pocket and the planet, I am calling for the industry regulator to require suppliers to show their value proposition, whereby each supplier presents what value it can offer to the consumer, as an energy partner. This would result in households using and paying less and would give the UK a chance of hitting its 2050 net zero target.”

Financial support for families in need this winter

£41 million Winter Support Fund for low income households

Funding to help people struggling financially during the winter is part of a new £41 million support package. The Winter Support Fund will help those on low incomes, children and people at risk of homelessness against a backdrop of rising living and fuel costs.

The funding comes from consequentials of the UK Government’s £500 million Household Support Fund. 

Key elements of the package include:

  • £10 million to help people who are struggling to pay fuel bills
  • £25 million flexible funding to help local authorities support wellbeing and respond to financial insecurity based on local needs
  • £6 million for third sector partners to support low income families

Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison said: “We know that many families are struggling financially due to the increased costs they are facing right now. This package of measure aims to ease some of that strain by providing direct support to people.

“The Scottish Government has invested £2.5 billion to support low income households in 2020-21, with around £1 billion focused on supporting children as a cornerstone of our national mission to tackle child poverty and homelessness.

“That includes doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per child per week, with our plans to do so set out in the forthcoming Scottish Budget.

“We are passing on every penny of the £41 million we received in UK Government consequentials.

“However, this in no way makes up for the recent £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit, which has taken an estimated £460 million from the pockets of the people in Scotland who need it most.”

Support for those struggling with fuel bills will include access to fuel top-up vouchers, advice to manage fuel debt and support for those in remote and rural areas.

The Winter Support Fund will continue to promote cash-first responses in line with our draft national plan on ending the need for food banks as a primary response. In some cases help may also be offered to tackle social isolation and support mental health.

In addition to helping people heat their homes and meet rising food costs, funding will help to ensure no-one is faced with rough sleeping this winter. 

The funding comes from consequentials of the UK Government’s £500 million Household Support Fund. 

Energy campaign helps households in Scotland reduce their fuel bills this winter

As a three-month campaign to help households in Scotland reduce their energy consumption and fuels bills draws to a close, industry experts have shared their top tips for keeping warm whilst cutting costs over winter.

Big Energy Saving Winter, organised by Citizens Advice, runs up until the end of January and provides information and practical guidance on saving energy, money, and the environment through greater efficiency.

Whilst the latest figures indicate a 1.8% decrease in emissions caused by residential energy use in 2019, compared to the previous year, it is expected to rise again with more people working from home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

OFTEC, which represents the liquid fuel heating industry, including those on oil heating, is supporting the ‘Big Energy Saving Winter’ campaign with guidance on how households in Scotland can reduce their energy consumption and save on unnecessary heating costs during the winter lockdown. The advice includes:

1.    Adjust your heating timers and thermostats

Remember to regularly adjust your timers to ensure the house only warms up when you need it to and that you only heat the rooms you regularly use. Nudging down the thermostat by a few degrees can save you money in the long term, but don’t lower it too much as living in a cold home can be bad for your health.

2.    Upgrade your heating controls

Many homes have a simple thermostat which sets one temperature for the whole house. Installing a more advanced system can enable you to set different temperatures for each room throughout the day and even learn your habits for automated heat settings. You can also control your heating remotely, saving money by turning off the heating when you are not at home.

3. Bleed your radiators

  • It’s recommended you regularly bleed your radiators, particularly if you notice they are not warming up as quickly as they usually do. This will ensure they are working at maximum efficiency and keeping your house warmer.

4. Don’t ignore your boiler

  • It’s easy to forget about your boiler but regular maintenance is important to ensure it is working efficiently. We recommend having it serviced at least once a year by a GasSafe (for mains gas) or OFTEC (for oil or solid fuel) registered technician, who are still working during the lockdown.  They are fully qualified and will complete the work safely and to the highest standard. We recommend you discuss the service visit with the heating technician first to ensure it is carried out in a Covid-safe way.

5. Consider an upgrade

  • Modern, condensing boilers are typically smaller, quieter and more efficient. So, installing a new boiler can help reduce your fuel consumption, emissions and energy bills. For the 135000 oil heated households in Scotland the good news is that oil remains by far the cheapest off-grid fuel. And, with a ‘drop-in’ renewable liquid fuel currently being developed, you can have peace of mind that your new boiler will help the planet in the future.

Malcolm Farrow, from OFTEC, commented: “With the recent national lockdown restrictions and cold weather spell, reducing our energy usage and helping to combat climate change might not be the first thing on everyone’s minds. However, it is incredibly important for our planet and can also help reduce fuel bills which could be a relief for many households.

“We must also remember that the cost of energy is a real concern for many struggling households, particularly in rural parts of Scotland with high levels of fuel poverty, which means they can often not afford the upfront cost of installing a new heating system.

“The good news for the 135000 homes in Scotland on heating oil is that a renewable liquid fuel alternative should become available over the coming years which will help to dramatically reduce emissions without the expense of having to replace the whole heating system.”

For more information and advice, visit www.oftec.org.

Support for vulnerable households facing higher energy bills during lockdown

With an estimated 16.8 million more people across the UK staying at home during the Covid-19 pandemic, concerns have been raised over vulnerable households in Scotland facing higher fuel costs as their energy consumption increases during the lockdown.

Bills are expected to rise by about 30%** in the coming months as, even with the weather starting to turn warmer, households are using more power to run their hot water, heating, computers and other appliances during the day when previously the home would be empty.

Whilst the government has signalled it may step in to support vulnerable households and the initial crash in the price of oil has provided some relief to the 135,000 oil heated households in Scotland, there is concern many will still struggle, particularly if they face reduced incomes or additional costs of looking after relatives.

In response OFTEC, the trade association for the oil heating industry, is alerting households to the support available and providing advice on how to reduce energy consumption. This includes:

  • Identify the benefits available to you. Several new government measures have been announced including extended statutory sick pay (SSP) for those self-isolating, enhanced Employment Support Allowance (ESA) for the self-employed and higher housing benefit payments if your income has dropped due to Covid-19. Contact Citizens Advice for information on the support you could claim.
  • Speak with your energy provider. Customers in financial distress must be supported by their supplier, according to the government. This could include a reassessment or pausing of debt repayments. For oil households, some suppliers are prioritising deliveries to vulnerable groups such as older people, families with small children or those with underlying health conditions.
  • Only heat the rooms you are using. Turn off individual radiators in rooms you are not using to save money. Also, in the rooms you use regularly, ensure radiators are not blocked with furniture as this reduces their effectiveness.
  • Adjust your heating timers. You may have a new routine if you are working from home so check when you heating is set to turn on. For example, if you are getting up later in the morning you may not need your house to warm up as early. With the worst of the cold weather seemingly behind us, you could also start to reduce how long your heating is on for.
  • Keep in contact with vulnerable neighbours and friends to ensure they are keeping well, especially as the lockdown could increase feelings of loneliness. There are many free video-calling platforms to stay in touch or a regular phone call can make a real difference. If you need to visit them to drop off food or other essentials, ensure you carefully follow the government’s social distancing guidelines.

“During these unsettling times, many households may be feeling anxious about higher energy bills because they are spending more time at home during the day”, says Malcolm Farrow of OFTEC.

“However, new announcements about the support available are being made every day by the government and energy suppliers so it’s important to identify those which apply to you, or to family and friends who you know are struggling.

“The warmer weather will help to reduce reliance on heating and other measures such as adjusting timers and radiators may seem trivial but, over several weeks and months, the savings can really add up. They are also usually simple jobs most people can do themselves.”

More information and advice, including what to do if your heating systems needs emergency repair work during the Covid-19 lockdown, is available here: https://www.oftec.org/consumers/covid-19-consumer-information.

Planet-friendly Pester Power!

SCOTLAND’S ‘woke’ kids are bullying their parents into becoming more eco-friendly to save the planet, according to new research by leading comparison site Moneyexpert.com.    

Pester power is becoming a force for good as half of mums and dads (48%) say they have been pressured to go green and save energy by the mini-Greta  Thunbergs in their own home. 

And while you might expect vocal teenagers to drive behaviour change – two thirds (65%) of parents say the pressure is coming from kids as young as 4!      

The study, to mark Big Energy Saving Week, may highlight the visibility and influence that the teenage climate-change activist, and recent events such as the Australian bush fires, are having on the nation’s kids, and their family’s energy consumption habits at home. 

Four in five (80%) parents say the ‘mini Greta’ in their home has talked more or asked more questions about the environment and the climate crisis over the past 12 months.     

Wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Michaela Strachan said: “We are in crisis mode when it comes to looking after our planet. We all need to radically change our behaviour to live in a more sustainable way and we need to do it now.

“Last year was a serious wakeup call when we all became aware of just how serious the challenge has become. It is so inspiring to see that children are leading the way, taking action, encouraging their parents to change and becoming future eco warriors.”  

And as a consequence of this planet-friendly pester power, the most common changes made are walking or cycling more (44%), making more of an effort to turn off the lights (35%), turning down the thermostat (21%), washing clothes at lower temperatures (18%), and taking shorter showers (14%).      

However, despite kids heaping on the pressure, four in five (80%) parents say that it’s actually their children who are the biggest energy-wasters. Half (49%) of parents say they still have to nag their eco-warrior kids to switch off lights in unused rooms, and 29% say their child takes longer than usual in the shower.   

Over the past 12 months 92% of parents have made environmental changes to their lifestyle and to the running of their home, with three in five  (61%) admitting that if it wasn’t for their child, they wouldn’t have realised the importance and impact of their current actions.       

However, despite being inspired to take positive actions, only a quarter (27%) of parents say they currently use a renewable energy provider. And it appears they are a little “green” about how it works. 

30% say they won’t switch because they believe green energy is more expensive than their current energy provider, and more than one in 10 (11%) believe switching won’t make a tangible difference to the climate crisis. 

However, recent analysis by Moneyexpert.com highlighted that for the cost of powering a home with average gas and electricity yearly consumption, savings of over £300 per year can be made by switching to green energy rates.   

A fifth (20%) hold the misconception that a renewable electricity supplier sends energy direct from solar and wind farms into people’s homes, when in reality, everyone gets their electricity from the same grid and it’s a question of how a supplier sources electricity that matches what you use.     

Jason Smith, CEO of Moneyexpert.com, said: “Typically the focus of Big Energy Saving Week is about making ethical choices about energy consumption – and in light of the climate crisis, we want to make people aware that it is absolutely possible to save money in an environmentally responsible way. 

“Misperceptions about the cost of green energy are getting in the way of people taking steps that are both purse-friendly and planet-friendly. With a couple more months of winter, and high energy bills ahead, now is a great time to listen to your kids, re-evaluate your current expenditure, and explore whether there’s a better deal available from a renewable energy supplier.”    

For information on how you can save both money and energy and find a green energy provider, visit Moneyexpert.com.   

Power to Switch: government encourages energy consumers to shop around

A new government campaign has been launched to encourage consumers to shop around for the best energy deals

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13.5 million households across the UK are missing out on their share of £2.7 billion by sticking with their energy company, according to the Department of Energy & Climate Change. They say that by shopping around and taking advantage of the best energy deals on the market, millions of people can save around £200 – and some can save even more.

The ‘Power to Switch’ campaign, launched today, encourages people to switch supplier and save money by visiting www.BeAnEnergyShopper.com. With 26 energy companies on the market and some fixed deals £100 cheaper than they were a year ago, there’s never been a better time to find a great deal, switch and save.

Launching the campaign, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: “When it comes to switching, the power is in people’s hands to get a better deal and save. We’ve reformed the market so that there are more suppliers, more competition, and a much faster and simpler process to switch. That means millions of people can switch supplier and save hundreds of pounds today.”

Energy and Climate Change Minister Amber Rudd said: “We’ve already taken £50 off bills and now we’re urging people to take advantage of the most competitive energy market we’ve ever had to save hundreds of pounds. With Ofgem’s strengthened Confidence Code for price comparison sites, people will be able to have greater confidence than ever before that by switching, they’ll see real savings.”

The Government’s programme of energy market reform includes:

  • Halving switching times – it now takes only 17 days to switch energy supplier down from 5 weeks last year;
  • Encouraging new suppliers on to the market – there are now 20 independent suppliers;
  • Legislating to back Ofgem reforms that force energy companies to make energy bills clearer – and providing information for customers about how to switch.

Ofgem has recently strengthened its Confidence Code for price comparison websites, setting tighter standards on how tariffs are displayed with websites given until the end of March to comply.

Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, said: “We need to shout loud about the benefits of switching tariff. Too many people think energy firms are ‘all the same’. That’s far from true, there are huge differences on both price and customer service.

“The worry is that news of recent price cuts, even though they were paltry, will have given many false confidence that they’re on a decent deal. Examine the figures and the ugly truth is very different.

“Even after price cuts, someone on a Big 6 supplier standard tariff with typical use will pay £1,158 a year, whereas switch to the cheapest tariff and they’d pay just over £900 a year. So it’s worth people taking 10 minutes to see if they can save themselves £250 ― at an hourly rate of £1,500 if someone else was offering this to you as work, would you turn it down?”

The ‘Power to Switch’ campaign will run for four weeks and will include national, regional and online advertising, encouraging people to switch and save.

For more information about how to switch energy supplier visit www.BeAnEnergyShopper.com or call the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234.