With soaring energy bills, fuel poverty is becoming more and more of a problem. Fuel poverty is defined as when a household has to spend more than 10% of its income to heat their home. While many households see their income increase far slower than fuel bills, and with job security precarious, many more homes this winter will face difficult choices about heating.
The Speakeasy has secured a major grant from the British Gas Energy Trust to help people in fuel poverty. Ben and Christine can help customers of British Gas, EDF and npower to apply for grants if they are in arrears of their bills. They can also give advice on how to make savings on energy costs, and can refer many households to Nest, for an assessment for free insulation and other energy saving aids.
Our Services
· Free, one-to-one advice
· Assistance with applications to the British Gas, EDF and npower Energy Trusts1
· Referrals to Nest2 for free insulation or other energy-related home improvements3
· Advice on dealing with fuel debt, payment options and budgeting, and saving energy at home
Grant Applications
Individuals and families can apply to the British Gas, EDF or npower Energy Trust for grants to help clear arrears and give them a fresh start to deal with future energy bills.
We support clients through the application process and offer one-to-one assistance.
The British Gas, EDF and npower Energy Trusts can help you with:
· Debts for domestic gas and/or electricity charges
and/or in exceptional circumstances
· Other priority debts and essential household items including white goods, boiler repairs or replacements, and bankruptcy and DRO fees.
Who can we help?
We will hold clinics to provide face-to-face assistance in the following areas:
· Cardiff (Roath, Llanedeyrn, St Mellons)
· RCT (Porth, Treorchy)
· Merthyr Tydfil
· Ebbw Vale
The project can also provide assistance over the telephone to people living across Wales
Contact us
If you or someone you know would benefit from our services, please contact us at:
Energy Advice Project
Speakeasy Advice Centre
166 Richmond Road
Cardiff
CF24 3BX
TEL: 0789 695 9422
E: speakeasyenergyadvice@gmail.com
Notes
1Applications for grants from the British Gas Energy Trust, EDF Energy Trust, or npower Energy Trust will only be accepted from customers of British Gas, EDF and npower respectively.
2Nest is the Welsh Assembly Government fuel poverty scheme
3 You may be eligible for home improvements under the Nest scheme if you own or privately rent your home, live in a home that is not energy efficient, and you or someone you live with receive one of the following:
Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Guaranteed Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance, income-based Employment Support Allowance, or Tax Credits (if income is low).
