ALEXANDER BACKS BIG ENERGY SAVING WEEK TO HELP HIGHLANDERS CUT FUEL BILLS
23-Oct-2012
Highland MP Danny Alexander is backing Citizens Advice Bureau's (CAB) ‘Big Energy Saving Week' initiative to help local people struggling with high energy bills.
Big Energy Savings Week is a chance to learn how people can make their homes warmer and reduce their energy bills by making their property more energy efficient.
Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey MP Danny Alexander said:
"Here in the Highlands, I know that fuel bills remain a big worry for many people at the moment.
"I am delighted to support Big Energy Saving Week, which helps to make sure local people get the immediate assistance they are entitled to.
"Big Energy Saving Week focuses on a problem which is high on Lib Dem priorities in the coalition. That is why the Government has this year introduced the Green Deal.
"The Green Deal is a unique scheme because the cost of the energy saving measures will be paid out of the savings made on the energy bill. That means people in the Highlands can make their homes warmer without any worries."
In addition to support from Citizens Advice Bureaus, people across Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey can get advice from the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS - 0300 123 1234) on how to reduce bills and make homes more energy efficient. It also gives details on eligibility for the Green Deal as well as Warm Front and other schemes to support people struggling with their energy bills.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. The Big Energy Savings Week is co-ordinated by Citizens Advice, supported by funding from the six largest energy suppliers negotiated by the Coalition Government earlier this year.
2. The campaign brings together consumer groups, the Energy Saving Trust, Third Sector organisations, Government and Ofgem to help consumers find out how they can lower their energy bills.
3. Citizens Advice and its partners aim to reach around 50m people through this campaign, including around 400 events in communities throughout the country, with a particular emphasis on reaching vulnerable consumers.
4. The Green Deal will let householders pay for a wide range of energy saving home improvements including insulation through savings expected to be made on their energy bills.
5. Since 1 October 2012 authorised Green Deal assessors and providers can offer ‘whole house' property assessments and discuss packages of improvements with householders. From 28 January 2013 Green Deal finance plans may be agreed.
6. The Warm Front scheme is free for most people who are eligible for the scheme, with grants available worth up to £3,500 (for homes with mains gas) and £6,000 (for homes off the gas grid). In September, the Coalition Government changed the eligibility rules meaning even more people can access this help, with a budget of up to £100m this year.
7. The Warm Home Discount scheme will help around 2m low income and vulnerable households with their energy costs. This includes more than 1m of the poorest pensioners, who will receive an automatic £130 discount on their electricity bill by 31December 2012. More than a million pensioners will receive a letter telling them they will receive the discount automatically and do not need to claim.
