Energy Advice

The price of energy continues to go up. Circle and its partners are dedicated to offering residents advice on paying for energy and are investing millions of pounds each year in making your homes more energy efficient.

Wherry are able to provide bespoke advice based on your own situation on how to save energy, switch tariffs and much more. For more information click here.

Energy Saving Advice Our staff can provide you with more tips and practical help. Speak to your neighbourhood officer or when you call us, ask if we can help.

Cold weather payments

You may be eligible for cold weather payments if you have experienced freezing temperatures for over seven days. Find out on the Direct Gov website - money and tax benefits

Answering your questions

What is fuel poverty?

If you spend more than 10% of your income on energy you are in fuel poverty. It is estimated that 4.6 million UK households are in fuel poverty.

Why not join Age UK's campaign to end fuel poverty and unnecessary fatalities amongst older people: "Spread the Warmth", at Age UK: Age UK "Spread the Warmth" campaign

How can I save money on my energy bills?

Don’t leave TVs and monitors on standby. SAVE up to £40 a year
Buy smaller LCD TV screens rather than large plasma screens. SAVE up to £25 a year
Put silver foil behind your radiators to reflect heat back into the room. SAVE up to £20 a year
Turn your thermostat down by one degree. SAVE up to £60 a year
Have shower instead of a bath. SAVE up to £40 a year
Buy energy efficient appliances. SAVE up to £30 a year
Wash your clothes at 40 degrees. SAVE up to £10. Dry them outside instead of in a tumble. SAVE up to £25
Use energy efficient bulbs. SAVE up to £40 a year.
Switch off lights when you leave a room. SAVE up to £10.
Making a cup of tea? Only use the water you need. SAVE up to £10

That’s a saving of up to £360. It all adds up!!

Getting the best deal on energy

What are social energy tariffs?

These are energy deals and advice for people that are classed as fuel poor. Many companies offer advice as well as a variety of tariffs:

EDF: EDF Energy: affordable energy, or call the EDF Energy Priority Services Team on 0800 269 450
npower - Spreading Warmth Tariff: call 0800 9751373
E.ON - Staywarm: For more information go to the E.ON website.
Scottish Power: Scottish Power: energy efficiency or call: 0845 2700 700
Southern Electric (part of Scottish & Southern Energy): Priority Plan, or call Careline on 0800 622 838
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For free, impartial advice on energy bills, contact any of the following:

Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 (freephone)
Energy Saving Trust advice centre on 0800 512 012 (freephone)
Age Concern on 0800 00 99 66 (freephone)

If you are struggling to pay your bills, don’t ignore it. Contact our income team, or contact:

Consumer Credit Counselling Service 0800 138 1111 (freephone) or
National Debtline 0808 808 4000 (freephone)

My Home Energy http://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/nhf-landing-page/

My Home Energy Switch is a joint partnership between the National Housing Federation and uSwitch to provide a dedicated webpage and phone line for housing association staff and tenants to quickly check the cheapest gas and electricity prices available to them. Please be aware that not everyone will be able to change supplier or tarrif so it is worth taking this into account when comparing.

Keep Warm Keep Well

DHS web page: DHS web page

‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ leaflet gives advice on staying healthy in cold weather

During the cold weather, the Department of Health’s ‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ leaflet is a useful resource for the public, especially the over 60s, low-income families and people with a disability.

It gives advice on staying well in cold weather and the financial help that is available, covering issues such as healthy lifestyle, flu jabs and heating.

‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ is part of the Department’s Cold Weather Plan, which aims to protect people’s health and reduce harm from severe cold.

If you are planning on going on holiday for half-term please be encouraged to leave the heating on. With the temperatures being so cold this will certainly assist in the avoidance of frozen/burst pipe work.
Please also be advised to turn off water supplies to your outside toilets during these severe cold periods, if you cannot turn off the water supply please contact our Customer Services Team.

You can find out more about keeping warm on the:NHS choices website and Staying Warm in Winter

Download: Keep Warm Keep Well Leaflet

How do I deal with condensation in my home?

Every home gets condensation from time to time – it is caused by water in the air collecting on cold surfaces. You can reduce it by doing a few simple things:

Cover pans when cooking and hang washing outside to dry
Avoid using paraffin heaters - one of the main causes of condensation
Keep bathroom and kitchen doors shut when you are using them
Don't completely draught-proof rooms with condensation as this could make it worse
If rooms are cold and are not being used, keep the doors shut.
Keep a small window ajar or a trickle ventilator open in each occupied room.

Don’t forget - if you open windows; make sure you shut them when you go out.

Heating can help but only if it's used in addition to the other suggestions
It needs to be 'dry heat' like central heating or gas fires, not paraffin or portable gas heaters
It's best to heat your home at a low level for a long time instead of an hour here and there.