Learn about collective switching to cut your energy bills

Are you paying too much for gas and electricity? Like to find out what you can do to change that? Then read on …

Scots Together offers householders and their communities the chance to save hundreds of pounds on energy bills as part of a collective buying initiative. Scots Together is currently the only Scottish pilot to be funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Representatives from the Scots Together initative will be at Community Renewal’s office in Pennywell Court (i.e. the shops!) tomorrow (Tuesday) from 2 – 5pm to talk about collective switching.

Organisers explained: ‘Collective switching involves getting people together to sign up to reviewing their electricity and gas tariffs, making sure they are on the best deal that they can get. Many people continue paying expensive tariffs simply because they don’t realise they can switch their supplier for gas and electricity. Reviewing your energy tariffs should be something you do as simply and regularly as reviewing your home or car insurance.

There will be options provided to each customer including, the price obtained through the collective switch auction, a comparison of the whole market and a greener tariff.

There will be no obligation to switch suppliers and we’ll let you know if you are already on the best tariff for you’.

Interested? Call in at Community Renewal tomorrow afternoon or you can get more info online – check out www.ScotsTogether.com

More face fuel poverty despite Holyrood help

Basic energy efficiency measures have prevented up to 35,000 Scottish households from falling into fuel poverty over the past year, according to the Scottish government.

Statistics released today show that the installation of measures such as loft and cavity insulation, double glazing and new boilers have helped to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and cut household energy requirements.

In spite of efforts by the Scottish Government to help reduce household energy bills, tens of thousands of families were pushed into fuel poverty in 2011 as a direct result of energy company price rises. Between July and October 2011, more than 102,000 households fell into this category after energy prices increased by 14%.

Housing and Welfare Minister Margaret Burgess said: “Basic energy efficiency measures can make a huge difference to Scottish families who are struggling to make ends meet, allowing them to heat their homes more cost effectively.

“This government has allocated over £68 million in 2012-13 to energy efficiency and fuel poverty programmes to help individuals and families who are in most need of support. We also have in place a cashback voucher scheme offering up to £500 per household for energy efficiency measures such as double glazing and loft and cavity wall insulation, and from today, energy efficient boilers and appliances for private sector landlords.

“Rising energy bills are a huge concern for this government, and fuel poverty is an absolute scandal in an energy rich country like Scotland. The more that energy companies continue to implement punishing price increases, the more they are undoing the good work we are doing to tackle fuel poverty. That is why we are urging the UK government – who has responsibility in this area – to do more to help vulnerable people and ensure that our households are better protected.”

However the Scottish Greens believe the government should be doing a lot more to address the problem, and they are calling on ministers to stop hand-wringing on the worsening issue of fuel poverty. The Scottish Greens say the National Retrofit Programme to insulate homes – first proposed by the party in 2009 – needs to be increased from the current £65million a year to at least £100 million to make a real difference.

Green MSP for Lothian and Holyrood energy committee member Alison Johnstone said:
“Scottish Greens have long argued for extra money focused on rapid upgrading of peoples’ homes. For SNP ministers to suggest this issue is worsening despite their efforts hides the fact that they could do much more.

“With thousands more homes in fuel poverty, the Scottish Government must be more ambitious. Wringing hands about Westminster’s failure to tackle the Big Six energy companies isn’t good enough.”

The Scottish Government’s latest figures show that recent energy price rises have pushed an extra 26,000 households in Scotland into fuel poverty. Around 29 per cent of Scottish households now spend over 10 per cent of their income on energy bills, and 185,000 of those households spend over 20 per cent.

Commenting on the figures, Norman Kerr, Director of national fuel poverty charity Energy Action Scotland said: “The fact that more Scottish households are now in fuel poverty is very disappointing but not surprising, as energy prices have gone up and people’s budgets generally are under pressure. Efforts to make homes energy efficient, so that less energy is needed to heat them, are more vital than ever and will clearly have to be increased.

“Our advice to the public is to check out if they are on the best fuel tariff and payment method for their needs, to shop around energy suppliers, and to take up the free or discounted insulation from Scottish Government programmes such as Home Energy Scotland. There is a tendency to think it won’t make a difference, but it does all help at these difficult times.”

Energy Action Scotland is highlighting that the figures released today are for the period to autumn 2011. Using those figures and adding the effects of energy price rises announced in autumn this year, the numbers living in fuel poverty today are more likely to be around 900,000 household (40%). Today’s report states that those on the lowest incomes are hit hardest by the price rises.

Lottery cash extends financial inclusion project

Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) is one of five Edinburgh housing associations to benefit from Big Lottery Funding to continue the Financial Inclusion Project (FIP) until 2017.

FIP is a partnership project between Port of Leith, Castle Rock Edinvar, Dunedin Canmore, Hillcrest and Margaret Blackwood housing associations and the Edinburgh Citizens’ Advice Bureau. The programme, which enables the CAB to second money advice staff to the housing associations to provide financial and debt management advice, was established in January 2007.

Fiona Neilson runs the programme at PoLHA. Last year she helped over 130 tenants bringing them almost £75,000 of additional income. She said: “It is fantastic that funding has been secured to continue with this programme which has already helped hundreds of Edinburgh families manage their finances and bring a positive change in their lives. The project will now be funded until it celebrates its milestone tenth birthday – this shows what a success it has been and we are confident will continue to be.”

PoLHA, which has over 3000 tenants in North Edinburgh, also works with energy charity Changeworks to help tenants manage energy costs and efficiency, as well as a number of other support services.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive at PoLHA, said: “This programme has been a major success and I am delighted this can now continue for a further four years. The changes effective money management can bring to families will help to ease pressure and worry and build confidence and skills.”

Warm homes for winter

Up to 10,000 extra Scottish households will be given free help to cut their energy bills this winter, Nicola Sturgeon said today. The Deputy First Minister has allocated a further £6 million to install vital energy efficiency measures, such as loft and cavity insulation into Scottish homes.

Also, from this week, a Scottish Government cash back voucher scheme will go live benefitting up to 35,000 Scottish households. This will allow individual householders to apply for £500 vouchers to contribute to the cost of new energy efficiency measures in their properties.

Ms Sturgeon said: “With temperatures dropping and colder weather beginning to bite, households across Scotland will be worrying about their winter energy bills. Solid action is absolutely imperative. That is why we have ploughed an additional £6 million into providing up to 10,000 households with free insulation that will make their homes warmer and cheaper to heat and invested millions into a cash back voucher scheme that is due to go live later this week.

“This is the kind of vital help which can make a real difference to those struggling to make ends meet and demonstrates we will do whatever we can within devolved powers to tackle fuel poverty. Anyone looking for help with their heating bills can contact our Home Energy Scotland Hotline on 0800 512 012 for further assistance.”

The £6 million funding is for the Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) – an initiative administered by local authorities.

Ms Sturgeon continued: “We all need to work together to tackle fuel poverty. Local authorities have been extremely effective at administering these schemes and I welcome their positive approach. I hope again that they will be able to deliver maximum results with this extra money. But our efforts are being held back by punishing price rises imposed by energy companies. The UK Government – who has responsibility for this area – is simply not doing enough to regulate the market, and this has to change urgently.

“With winter approaching, we need an end to mixed messages and confusion from Westminster, which frankly has done nothing to inspire confidence among worried householders.”

Chair of the National Insulation Forum (Scotland), Wilson Shaw said: “The National Insulation Association warmly welcomes this announcement -it’s really good news, not only for the thousands of households that will benefit, but also for the industry.

“It will really help insulation firms and their employees in Scotland, giving them greater continuity of work between current programmes coming to an end and the Green Deal and ECO getting going.”

The £6 million will be allocated to the Universal Home Insulation Scheme – an energy efficiency initiative administered by local authorities. The new funding is due to the success of the Scottish Government’s Energy Assistance Package in attracting energy company obligation funding to Scotland under the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target.

From 1 November, householders across the whole of Scotland will be able to apply for a cashback voucher for up to £500 towards the cost of installing energy efficiency measures which are recommended through an EPC or Green Deal assessment.

Local MP backs action on pre-payment meters

Mark Lazarowicz MP (pictured above) backs action on fuel poverty to help cut bills of pre-payment meter users

With steep rises in energy prices on the way this winter, Mark Lazarowicz MP for Edinburgh North and Leith, is backing a new Bill to make it easier for customers who use pre-payment meters (PPMs) for their gas and electricity to switch suppliers.

Currently, users can switch providing they are not more than £200 in debt – the Bill would raise that to £300 benefitting over 200,000 people. Mark said: “This Bill matters because pre-payment meter users pay more for their gas or electricity even though they are over twice as likely to be in fuel poverty than those who pay by direct debit. People often use PPMs because they are trying to budget responsibly – in some cases precisely because they were in debt – but debts for fuel bills can take a long time to pay off when someone can only afford to pay off a small amount each week. The Government is always urging consumers to switch – this Bill would make it easier for PPM users to do so and they are the people who could benefit most.”

The number of pre-payment users has risen steadily in recent years either as a conscious choice or because suppliers install a meter where someone is in debt to them. Last year over 15% of electricity customers in the UK used PPMs (4.1 million) and 13% of gas customers (2.9 million).

A recently published study by Consumer Focus found that one in six pre-payment users cut off their own energy supply in order to make ends meet – a measure of how carefully they are budgeting. Traditionally pre-payment users have paid much more for their gas and electricity than those who pay by direct debit or standard credit.

There have been improvements more recently due to action by the regulator, Ofgem, so that the prices PPM users pay better reflect the costs of installing and maintaining the meters, but further action is needed to ensure PPM users get a fair deal.

Six hundred local households to receive fuel support

A project being delivered by Port of Leith Housing Association (PoLHA) and sustainability charity Changeworks will help 600 households in the North Edinburgh area to be affordably warm at home. The Affordable Warmth Project, funded by ScottishPower until 2015, will support householders to address high energy costs, poor levels of energy efficiency and low income – the three root causes of fuel poverty.

The funds will be used to employ a Money Advice Worker from the Citizens Advice Bureau Edinburgh seconded to PoLHA two days a week to work on the project and an Affordable Warmth Advisor employed by Changeworks for two and a half days a week.

Keith Anderson, Chief Executive of PoLHA, said: “This will be a fantastic project and will make a massive difference to the lives of hundreds of our tenants. Fuel poverty is a very serious and damaging issue that can have terrible ramifications for individuals and their families. It’s terrible some people feel they have to choose between basics such as eating and heating but the reality is that this is happening. This project will help people manage their household bills and finances which will relieve this pressure and let them enjoy a happy and warm winter. We are very grateful to both ScottishPower and Changeworks for their support on this project.”

Each year, over the next three years, Changeworks’ Affordable Warmth Advisor will visit 200 tenants in their homes (referred by PoLHA staff) and offer confidential and impartial energy and fuel billing advice. The Money Advice Worker will meet with 160 of these tenants to help with advice on benefits, budgeting and wider debt advice.

Sam Mills, Head of Projects at Changeworks, said: “Almost half of Port of Leith’s tenants struggle in the winter months to afford to heat their homes. With rising energy prices and cold winters there has never been a better time for this Affordable Warmth Project and Changeworks is delighted to be working with Port of Leith Housing Association to support their tenants. Our Affordable Warmth Advisor is happy to visit any tenant struggling with the cost of keeping their home warm and dry or who are worried about their gas and electricity bills. Last year, the vast majority (over 93%) of people we supported were happy with our service and after speaking to us said they understood better how to save money on their energy bills. So please do get in touch.”

For further information call Changeworks on 555 4010 or email ask@changeworks.org.uk