With winter on the way, Dame Caroline Spelman, Member of Parliament for Meriden constituency, has today called on her constituents to ensure that they are taking advantage of free help and support with energy bills.
Dame Caroline said; “It’s really important to be prepared for winter. I want everyone in Meriden constituency to understand what help is available for them, and for their family and friends. Being energy efficient and keeping bills under control is really important, so I would encourage people to get in touch with Smart Energy GB, or contact their energy supplier to find out what support may be available”.
“There are a number of simple steps that everyone should take to make sure they’re doing all they can to keep their bills down and their homes warm”.
Get the best deal
Make sure you are on the best gas and electricity tariff for you. Companies like British Gas tell customers if they have a more competitive tariff available to them, and allows customers to switch between tariffs without paying a penalty.
Get a Smart Meter
Smart meters are the new generation of gas and electricity meters being rolled out across Great Britain. They show you how much energy you are using in pounds and pence, in near real time and bring an end to estimated bills.
Smart meters measure how much gas and electricity you’re using, as well as what it’s costing you, and display this in on a handy in-home display.
They also send automatic meter readings to your energy supplier at least once a month, so you will receive accurate, not estimated, bills.
A fortnight ago, Dame Caroline Spelman sought to promote the use of smart meters in the Meriden constituency by attending a Parliamentary ‘drop-in’ with Smart Energy GB.
Extra support for vulnerable customers
Constituents may be entitled to extra support from the Government and their energy service provider if they meet certain criteria. Last year, more than 700,000 British gas customers in the UK received the warm homes discount – a one off discount of £140 on the electricity bill.
For more information on what you may be eligible for, please visit: www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/heating
The British Gas Energy Trust
The British Gas Energy trust is an independent charitable trust that offers advice and support for people who are struggling with their household bills. Since it was established in 2005, British Gas has provided £85 million worth of funding to the Trust which has helped more than 176,000 people with debt and advice and grants. For more information on the British Gas Energy Trust, please visit: www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk or telephone 01733 421060.
Keep your home warm, working and safe
Your gas appliances should be checked for safety every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. These important checks can detect a range of problems from boiler faults to gas leaks and carbon monoxide poisoning. Contact your energy provider for further information.