Tackling fuel poverty in rural areas

What can be done?

Kath McDaidNEA Regional Co-ordinatorYorkshire & Humber Region

What is currently available to tackle Fuel Poverty?

• Grant aid schemes – national and local• Invest to save projects

• Energy supplier programmes such as: Carbon Emissions Reduction Target – CERT

Community Energy Savings Programme – CESP

Priority Services Register

Social Tariffs

Trust Funds

• Smart meters

Affordable warmth - What is out there to help?

Home Heat Helpline – advice on energy efficiency, bill payment, benefit assessments, payment schemes 0800 336699

Local Authority Schemes – may offer discounts on insulation, central heating may be free to certain categories of applicant

Contact local council

Warm Front Benefit Entitlement Check – can check what an individual is entitled to

0800 072 9006

Pension Service Helpline- Advice on pension credits for over 60’s

0800 991 234

Energy Efficiency Advice Centres – advice on energy, transport, microgeneration, referrals to local grant schemes

0800 512 012

Warm Front – grants to install energy efficiency measures to homeowners/occupiers in receipt of certain benefits

0800 316 6011

Age Concern (Age UK) – information on fuel switching, saving energy, keeping the home warm and other related subjects

0800 009 966

Consumer Direct – information on how to switch energy supplier, price comparison fact sheet, regionally based advisors on range of issues

08454 040506

Winter Warmth Advice Line – check eligibility for and make referrals to Warm Front, Benefits Helpline and other agencies. Open Oct – Mar

0800 085 7000

Citizens Advice Bureau – advice on benefit entitlements, help with applications for grants etc. Local CAB in phone book or online

Home Improvement Agencies (Foundations) help older and vulnerable people maintain their independence by providing housing-related support

01457 891 909

Winter Fuel Payments Helpline –

advice on payment of winter fuel payments

08459 151 515

Affordable warmth - What is out there to help?

Home Heat Helpline – advice on energy efficiency, bill payment, benefit assessments, payment schemes 0800 336699

Local Authority Schemes – may offer discounts on insulation, central heating may be free to certain categories of applicant

Contact local council

Warm Front Benefit Entitlement Check – can check what an individual is entitled to

0800 072 9006

Pension Service Helpline- Advice on pension credits for over 60’s

0800 991 234

Energy Efficiency Advice Centres – advice on energy, transport, microgeneration, referrals to local grant schemes

0800 512 012

Warm Front – grants to install energy efficiency measures to homeowners/occupiers in receipt of certain benefits

0800 316 6011

Age Concern – information on fuel switching, saving energy, keeping the home warm and other related subjects

0800 009 966

Consumer Direct – information on how to switch energy supplier, price comparison fact sheet, regionally based advisors on range of issues

08454 040506

Winter Warmth Advice Line – check eligibility for and make referrals to Warm Front, Benefits Helpline and other agencies. Open Oct – Mar

0800 085 7000

Citizens Advice Bureau – advice on benefit entitlements, help with applications for grants etc. Local CAB in phone book or online

Home Improvement Agencies (Foundations) help older and vulnerable people maintain their independence by providing housing-related support

01457 891 909

Winter Fuel Payments Helpline –

advice on payment of winter fuel payments

08459 151 515

What is available regionally?

• York and North Yorkshire Affordable Warmth Partnership

• York and North Yorkshire Hotspots Scheme• Leeds City Region Low Carbon Framework

– Craven and Harrogate• Yorkshire and Humber AW Action Plan• North Yorkshire Housing Strategy• Humber Housing Strategy• Energy Saving Trust advice centre – ESTac• Rural Community Council – Regional Co-ordinator

(looking at off-gas communities)

What Can Be Done?

• Lobbying Local Authority for grants + local action plans for achieving affordable warmth

• County sign up to eradicating fuel poverty by 2016• Lobbying central government to:

– continue grant aid especially in favour of renewable technologies in off-gas areas

– ensure Ofgem regulates in favour of consumer– ensure Commission for Rural Communities acts on rural fuel

poverty

• Health sector contributing towards action on fuel poverty• Lobby regional agencies to maintain profile of AW

alongside climate change priorities

What do you think?

Any questions?

Thank you for listening

Contact:Kath.mcdaid@nea.org.uk07855 863310