BRIDGWATER'S MP Ashley Fox met with Citizens Advice and Energy UK in Parliament last week to learn about what support his constituents can access with winter energy bills.
Mr Fox spoke with volunteers to discover how their agencies work with residents across the country to help people cope with the energy price cap, which has risen by 10%.
National Energy Action, a fuel poverty charity, estimates that more than 19,000 pensioners in Bridgwater will lose the Winter Fuel Payment. Between 2023/24, 21,388 people in the Bridgwater constituency received the Winter Fuel Allowance.
The Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves insist that the decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment was necessary to help address a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances this year that they inherited from the Conservatives.
What support is available?
Contact your supplier
Ashley Fox first recommends contacting your energy supplier, as suppliers can often offer a range of support such as repayment plans, payment holidays, or credit advances on prepayment meters. If you don’t know who your energy supplier is, it should be listed on your bill. If you can’t find your electricity supplier, you can find it by typing your postcode into the Energy Network Association website. If you don’t know who provides your gas, enter your postcode into the Find My Supplier search tool.
Priority Services Register
If you are disabled, have electric medical devices, are pregnant, or fall into a number of other categories, you can sign up to the Priority Services Register. It’s free to register, and with permission, shares information between energy suppliers and network operators about people who might need additional support.
Make your home more energy-efficient
If you are struggling with bills right now, investing in energy efficiency measures might feel out of reach. However, there are several government schemes to help you with home energy-saving improvements, including:
- The Energy Company Obligation if you are on benefits or live in social housing.
- The Great British Insulation Scheme if your property is within a certain energy rating and council tax band.
- The Home Upgrade Grant if you own a home in England with no boiler.
Getting Independent Debt Advice
For help and advice from Citizens Advice, call 0808 223 1133 or visit their website. If you are struggling with debt, you can also reach out to the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000. For disability-specific advice, contact the charity Scope on 0808 800 3333. And for pensioners, contact the Age UK for advice on 0808 678 1602.
Ashley Fox's final advice is: “If you live in the Bridgwater constituency and you’re struggling with your bills and can’t find support from any of these sources, you can also reach out to the office of Ashley Fox MP directly via email at ashley.fox.mp@parliament.uk
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