With winter fast approaching Sir Edward Leigh, the veteran Member of Parliament for the Gainsborough Constituency has called for residents to make sure they are taking advantage of free help and support with energy bills.
Sir Edward said:
“I want everyone to be prepared for winter and to know what help is available to them, and their family and friends. So I want to encourage people to contact their energy suppliers and find out what support is available to them.
“There are a number of simple steps that everyone should take to make sure they are keeping their bills down and themselves and their home warm this winter.”
Sarwjit Sambhi, Managing Director of UK Home at British Gas said:
“Winter can be a challenging time for households and many people may be concerned about their winter energy bill. Help is available and we urge customers to get in touch so we can offer then advice and support.
“In the long term, energy efficiency is still the best way to save money on bills. British Gas is proud to be leading the roll-out of smart meters across Britain, which enables you to see how much energy you’re using in pounds and pence and identify where savings can be made.”
Get the best deal
Make sure you are on the best gas and electricity tariff for you. British Gas tells customers in every bill if they have a better tariff for them, allows customers to switch its tariffs without paying a penalty charge and offers flexible payment plans which enable customers to set and manage their own payments. Anyone worried about their energy bills can call British Gas on 0800 048 0202 to discuss the help available.
Get a smart meter
Your energy supplier will be able to install a smart meter, which means an end to estimated bills. A smart energy monitor shows how much energy you are using, and what you are spending.
Extra support for vulnerable customers
Constituents may be entitled to extra support from the Government and their energy supplier if they meet certain criteria. Last year more than 700,000 British Gas customers in the UK received the Warm Home Discount – a one off discount of £140 on the electricity bill. British Gas has broad eligibility criteria and customers should contact 0800 072 8625.
The British Gas Energy Trust
The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charitable trust that offers advice and support to people whom are struggling with their household bills. Since it was established in 2004, British Gas has provided £85million of funding to the Trust which has helped more that 176,000 people with debt advice, and grants. For more information on the British Gas Energy Trust, visit: www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk.
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.