CAB - Do you know someone struggling to pay their bills?

ARTICLE RECEIVED FROM CAB 10/01/2020

Citizens Advice South Hams is helping local residents to make significant savings on their energy bills. Clients have typically made energy cost savings of £200-£500 a year. In addition South Hams residents have been supported to secure grants towards energy efficiency improvements in their homes. These energy savings help reduce the level of fuel poverty in such households.

This is vital work, as shocking new statistics from National Energy Action reveal that one in five private rented households in the UK are in fuel poverty. A household is considered to be in fuel poverty if 10% or more of the household income is spent on fuel – in short that’s money spent on heating, hot water and running appliances. Fuel poor households commonly face the difficult choice between eating and heating. Unknown to many, and often hidden amongst the beauty of Devon, local people are struggling to pay their energy bills. Nearly half of fuel poor households are in employment but still struggling.

Nick White, from Citizens Advice South Hams says, “Fuel poverty is caused by combinations of low incomes, high energy prices and energy inefficient housing. Our trained Energy Advisers can help people who are struggling to pay their energy bills or who are worried about heating their homes during the winter months.

“We have a home visiting service to advise on homes with - expensive heating systems, draught, damp and mould. Recently we helped a householder whose storage radiator was not wired properly. The landlord has fixed the problem and reimbursed the tenant by £700. In another case we helped a client who could not understand why he was paying over £2,000 a year in energy bills. We liaised with the energy company, identified an error and facilitated reimbursement totalling £985.”

If you would like to talk to Citizens Advice South Hams energy efficiency team, call 01803-659733 or email energy.advice@southhamscab.org.uk.