Call for action ahead of Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (26 November) in Bexhill
Free energy advice drop-in in Bexhill offers help with energy and water bills
Local community benefit society Energise Sussex Coast is encouraging members of the public to email their MPs in advance of this year's Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, Wednesday 26 November (which is also budget day) to oppose the Chancellor's reported plans to slash investment in warmer, safer homes: https://www.energisesussexcoast.co.uk
Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) will be marking the day itself (Wed 26 Nov) with a free energy advice drop-in at the Pebsham Community Cafe (Pebsham Community Hub, 70 Seabourne Road, TN40 2SW) in Bexhill. The drop-in will run 9.30 – 11.30am.
Roughly two-fifths (43%) of UK households are currently spending more than 10% of their household income on gas and electricity (one common definition of fuel poverty), according to research by the University of York. Energy bills remain nearly £500 a year higher than before the energy crisis began, while energy debt has reached a record £4.43 billion.
Moreover, new polling by YouGov for the charity National Energy Action found thatsix in ten adults across Great Britain say that they are likely to ration their heating this winter – a nine-point increase since January.
Founded in 2012, Energise Sussex Coast works to tackle the climate crisis and energy injustice through community-owned renewable power and energy-saving schemes. It also runs a free Energy Advice service to help local residents bring down the cost of their electricity, gas and water bills: 01424 390 062. Last year, it responded to over 9,700 calls to its helpline and distributed over £90,000 in fuel vouchers.
ESC'senergy experts can provide free help and advice concerning: energy and water debts; billing support – including talking to suppliers to sort out issues; the best energy and water tariffs and any support schemes people may be eligible for saving energy and bringing bills down; how to access free or part-funded insulation and energy efficiency measures; boiler replacement or repairs; grants for white goods; and upgrading the energy efficiency of your home using technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps.
A recent user of ESC's energy advice service said: 'Amazing service … [Your advisor] helped me to address a worry with my energy provider about a debt I seemed to have since changing to a smart meter, that wasn’t there before. She also put me forward for a new washing machine [enabled] by a grant, which was so essential and needed as I was very worried about how I would afford one.'
Energise Sussex Coast director Kate Meakin said: 'In the run-up to this year's Fuel Poverty Awareness Day on 26 November we're urging everyone to contact their MPs to oppose the reported plans to slash investment in warmer, safer homes. As a community group that's spent over a decade trying to get government energy efficiency schemes to work for local people – with much frustration and some notable successes – we know that when retrofit is done well, it works: homes are warmer, bills are lower and families are healthier. The rumoured cuts to energy efficiency programmes would leave millions trapped in homes that make them ill, break a manifesto promise and sabotage the UK's climate goals. The Government can and should be taking action to reduce energy bills in the short-term – through changes to our electricity pricing system, real reform to standing charges and using public investment to help fund grid upgrades – but it must not try to do so by sacrificing long-term investment in warmer, safer homes.'