Energy bills & staying warm

Great British Insulation Scheme

You may be able to get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills.

You might get support if your home:

• has an energy performance certificate (EPC) of D to G - check your EPC
• is in Council Tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland or Wales - check your Council Tax band

You can be a homeowner, landlord or tenant (either renting privately or from a housing association). If you’re a tenant, speak to your landlord before you apply. You’ll need their permission before any insulation can be installed.

Find out more: Apply for support from the Great British Insulation Scheme

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Home Upgrade Grant

The Government’s Home Upgrade Grant is available to residents of the Lancaster district.

The grant amount is dependent on the EPC rating of your property and how it is currently heated but can be up worth up to £25,000 and eligible measures are free for owner-occupiers.

This means that you could get your home winter-ready and the ‘Cosy Homes in Lancashire’ initiative will pick up the bill to help you get warmer, and stay warmer in future for less money

• Find out more: Help with heating and insulation

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Energy Efficiency Ideas & Energy Saving Tips

Saving energy at home isn't just about becoming more energy efficient — it's about learning how you can save money, too.

There are many things you can do to reduce the amount of energy you use in your home. Being energy efficient doesn’t always mean a big change to your routine, it can often take just a few small changes to your lifestyle.

• Find out more: Electrical Safety First

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Plus Dane - Coping with the Rising Cost of Living

Important costs like gas, electricity, fuel and food are rising steeply. It's a real worry and is affecting many people across the country. We've pulled together some advice, tips and resources to support you.

• Coping with the rising cost of living 

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Energy Saving Trust

Make your home more energy efficient, reduce your carbon emissions and lower your energy bills.

Home – it’s somewhere you want to feel safe and warm. That involves using energy to heat or cool your property, generate hot water and power all your appliances and devices.

Around 21% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our homes, as a result.

We want to help you save money on your bills at the same time as reducing your carbon footprint. So, whether that involves being more energy efficient, generating your own renewable energy, switching to a green tariff or insulating your home to keep the heat in.

• Advice and information to help: https://energysavingtrust.org.uk/energy-at-home/

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Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP)

We deliver the Local Energy Advice Partnership (LEAP) in North Lancashire.

LEAP offers low income and vulnerable households free energy and money saving advice, including:

• Free energy efficiency measures, such as LED lightbulbs and radiator panels
• Support to switch to a cheaper energy tariff 
• Help to sign-up for the Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register
• Advice on simple changes to your habits that can save money
• Benefits check and advice on budgeting and debt
• Referral for grants for larger heating and insulation measures 

LEAP is totally free and available to households of any tenure – homeowners, private tenants and social tenants. The eligibility criteria are very broad and can be found here

Advice and information to help: https://greenrose.org.uk/energy-and-money-saving-advice/

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Electricity North West

Power cuts can be more frequent in winter due to storms, and we know they can be more disruptive because it's cold and dark. We're here to help you and we've pulled some key information together to support you this winter.

Be winter ready with these simple steps:

1. Check out our advice and support section below to help reduce your energy bills
2. Keep torches and batteries handy and keep your mobile phone charged in case there's an unexpected power cut
3. Keep an eye on weather forecasts and take note of local weather warnings which can cause disruption to power supplies
4. Check our power cut pages and write down or save our number - 105 - in case you need to report a power cut
5. Check if your landline will still work in a power cut and write down other key phone numbers in case your mobile does run out of charge
6. If anyone in your household needs additional support, join our free extra care register
7. If you use medical equipment make sure it has a battery backup or manual function. If in doubt, speak to your healthcare professional or equipment manufacturer

Find out more here.

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HEAT

HEAT provides 1-1 mentoring support and advocacy to vulnerable households in England and Wales. Our team of Energy Mentors provide a holistic, independent, tailored advice to fuel-poor households experiencing energy crises.
 
We provide ongoing support throughout the process, helping customers understand their options and make informed decisions. This includes:
• Tackling energy emergencies.
• Managing fuel debt and related issues.
• Advocate on your customer’s behalf.
• Accessing energy grants.
• Optimising energy usage and efficiencies.

Heat Energy Top Tips

0800 092 9002 / heat@thewisegroup.co.uk - Find out more here.

WaterSure Scheme

WaterSure is a scheme which helps some people with their water bills. To apply for the scheme, you must be on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons or because your household has a certain number of school-age children. You also need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed.

Who qualifies for WaterSure

To qualify for WaterSure you need to:

• be on a water meter or have applied for one and be waiting for it to be installed, or be paying an assessed charge because it's not possible to fit a meter at your property  
• be on certain benefits
• have a high essential use of water

Find out more about WaterSure...

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Money Saving Expert - How to Save on your Broadband

Some 4.2 million low-income households are eligible for special discounted broadband packages, according to the latest figures released by Ofcom. But the regulator says only 55,000 households have taken them up, with millions (84% of those eligible) missing out on average savings of £144 a year. 

There are six providers - BT, Community Fibre, G.Network, Hyperoptic, KCOM and Virgin Media O2 - that currently offer so-called "social tariffs" to eligible customers on benefits, but the regulator has called on them to do a better job of letting customers know about the lower prices, as well as urging them to make the sign up process as easy as possible.

• Find out about discounted broadband

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Universal Credit

Universal Credit supports you if you are on a low income or out of work. It includes a monthly payment to help with your living costs. This site will help you understand what Universal Credit means for you. 

If you are currently claiming other benefits why not use an independent benefits calculator to see if you could be better off on Universal Credit? It is important to also get independent advice before you apply. You can find out more about Universal Credit on this site. If you’re ready to make a claim, visit gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim

• Understanding Universal Credit

Council tax support is a local scheme paid by the council to help certain groups of people pay their council tax.

Anyone who has to pay council tax can claim. However council tax support is there to help people on low income to pay their council tax bill. It is assessed by looking at your: 

• household 
• any other adults living with you 
• personal circumstances 
• income

Please note you will not be entitled to council tax support if you have savings of over £16,000 (unless you are in receipt of Guaranteed Pension Credit).

• Find out about Council Tax support

British Gas

British Gas Energy Support Fund

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Scottish Power

Scottish Power Hardship Fund

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OVO Energy

OVO'S Extra Support

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E.ON Next

The E.ON Next Energy Fund

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EDF

EDF Energy Fund

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Utilita

Helping Hand Fund

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Octopus Energy

Octo Assist

• 01524 400 404 for booking an appointment
• enquiries@northlancashirecab.org.uk for advice by email

Can help with benefits checks, benefit applications, housing issues, employment problems, all kinds of debt, issues with bills, suppliers, the cost of living or unfair practices, budgeting advice or referrals into foodbanks, food clubs or wellbeing services locally, help with the current Cost of Living Crisis can be found - Get help with the cost of living - Citizens Advice

There are free spaces available to find out all about;

Support with Fuel Debt. To find out more click here. (PDF, 99KB)

Our service is free and confidential.