As many households struggle with cost-of-living increases, local MP Rebecca Harris, is urging residents to check if they are entitled to additional support with household energy costs. 

On Monday (28 November) Rebecca met with British Gas and parent-company Centrica to discuss the help and support available to households. The supplier, which stepped in to take on more than 700,000 customers from firms that have gone out of business, has pledged to donate 10% of all British Gas Energy profits for the duration of the energy crisis to the British Gas Energy Support Fund which provides grants of up to £1,500 to thousands of its customers with debt. In November it also announced an additional £25m of help, taking the amount it has invested in voluntary customer support this year to £50m.

In addition, the British Gas Energy Trust delivers advice and support services for customers and has £6m in grants, energy efficiency measures, fuel vouchers and advice to all energy consumers. You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to seek support from the British Gas Energy Trust.

Rebecca Harris MP said:

“It is important that people are aware of the support available which can help them manage household finances. Regardless of who your energy supplier is, I’d encourage people to speak to their energy supplier if they are starting to struggle, and find out if they are able to access support from organisations like the British Gas Energy Trust.”

British Gas engineer, Amy Gray, said:

"As an engineer visiting customer homes, I hear every day how the rising costs of living, coupled with an increasing cost of energy, are putting more households under pressure. People need extra support now more than ever. Help is at hand and people should contact their energy supplier to make sure they’re receiving the support that is available – whether that is being added to the Priority Services Register or accessing grants, like those available through the British Gas Energy Trust.

“Many people are planning to make some changes around the house this year, with energy efficiency in mind. Here are my top tips.

1. Bleed your radiators: Air can enter the system and form bubbles at the top of your radiators, which stops them from working efficiently. If you notice cold spots at the top of your radiators, switch them off and after they cool, turn a radiator key in the valve at the top to let the air out. 
2. Shut out the cold: You wouldn’t leave the back door open when the heating’s on, but warm air could still be escaping without you realising – and cold air could be sneaking in. Draught excluders are available from most DIY stores, and they’re an easy and affordable way to draught-proof your home. As well as sealing the joins around your doors and windows, don’t overlook extra measures like letterbox brushes, chimney balloons and even keyhole coverings.
3. Turn off radiators in rooms not in use: It’s important not to spend money heating spare rooms or other rooms not in use during the winter, so if you know a room isn’t going to be used, make sure you turn the radiator off and close the door to stop cold air circulating through the rest of the house. When you do need to use the room, just turn it back on ahead of time to heat it up.
4. Furnish for warmth: Think about where your heat sources are, and make sure your radiators can do their job properly. Putting your sofa in front of a radiator will absorb heat that could be warming the rest of the room.  Curtains and rugs have an important part to play as well, because thick material prevents heat from being lost through windows and doors – just don’t forget to open your curtains during the day so that the sun can do some of the work.
5. Wrap your pipes up warm: We often come across frozen condensate pipes – which can burst or crack when the water inside turns to ice. The best solution is to stop the water inside your pipes from freezing in the first place. Insulating materials are an easy, cost-effective solution, available from most DIY stores – ensuring the pipes don’t lose heat can save an average of £15 on your bills, and prevent any costly repairs.
6. Heat your home, not your walls: Cover a thin sheet of card with tinfoil and place it behind your radiators (if you're feeling particularly crafty you can make it T-shaped so it sits on your radiator brackets). It'll reflect the heat back into your rooms, meaning they warm up faster and retain more heat. If DIY isn't your thing, you can also buy ready-made foil insulation. Households can save around £25 a year doing this depending on the insulation in their home.
7. Check your thermostat settings: It’s easy to turn the thermostat all the way up when it's freezing cold but what temperature should your house be? Aim to set your main room thermostat somewhere between 18°C and 21°C and you can save around 10% on your heating bills – an average of £115 a year – by turning it down by 1 degree. It's also a good idea to set your thermostat to one temperature and then use a timer to turn it on and off when you need the heating most. That way you won't waste excess energy from leaving the heating on too high, for too long.
8. Be energy smart: Making the most of tech like smart thermostats means you can control your heating on the go and avoid wasting money on energy you’re not using. For example, if you’re stuck at work or delayed on the way home, you can use your smartphone to stop the heating from coming on too early and warming up an empty house. Our Hive Active Heating customers save around £311 on average per year.
9. Get the help you’re entitled to: It’s always worth finding out if you’re eligible for extra assistance with your energy bills, especially before the cold weather sets in. Face-to-face advice, financial support and grants up to £1,500 are available from the British Gas Energy Trust (even if you’re not a British Gas customer). Most suppliers also offer assistance funds to provide grants towards energy costs.”

Jessica Taplin, Chief Executive of British Gas Energy Trust said:

“If you’re struggling with debt it’s difficult to know where to turn. Our British Gas Energy Support Fund has been set up in response to the increasing cost of living and rising inflation, including Ofgem’s increases to the price cap. Through the fund thousands of eligible British Gas customers with fuel debt of up to £1,500 are able to apply for grants, to help pay their energy bills over the coming months. If you are struggling with domestic gas and electricity debts owed to British Gas or other suppliers you can apply for a grant from us to clear that debt.”