Pincher Urges Residents Facing Energy Bill Increases to Call the Home Heat Helpline

Christopher Pincher MP is urging local people to contact the Home Heat Helpline for free help and advice on their energy bills, after research showed that a up to 19% of the area’s households are missing out on the support to which they are entitled.

A range of measures to help keep heating costs down – such as free or cut-price insulation – are available from energy companies.  However, research by the New Policy Institute on behalf of the Home Heat Helpline found that millions of people across the country are failing to take advantage of free help such as this.

In the Tamworth Constituency, 6000 of homes are eligible for energy efficiency measures which would help to keep their bills down, but have failed to claim it.  This is despite estimates that insulating lofts and cavity walls could help save the typical household around £250 on its heating costs.

By contacting the Home Heat Helpline free on 0800 33 66 99, people will be given the advice they need to access this help.  Since opening five years ago, the Helpline has helped around 190,000 people. This winter alone, huge demand saw record calls of 20,000 and a 600% increase in the number of calls.

Commenting, Mr. Pincher said:
“Thousands of people in our town are missing out on free help which could reduce their energy bills. Given the record cold winter, it is vital that people take advantage of all the assistance which is available.  If you want help or advice on how to keep your bills as low as possible, or know someone else who does, you should call the Home Heat Helpline free on 0800 33 66 99 to speak to a trained advisor.”

Sian Lloyd, ITV weather presenter who supports the Home Heat Helpline, said:
“As we emerge from one of the coldest winters on record, the Home Heat Helpline has been a lifeline for the most vulnerable who have been worried about paying their energy bills.  There is lots of free help out there and I urge those most in need to call today to get the support you are entitled to.”

Christine McGourty, spokesperson for the Home Heat Helpline said:
“Free help is available to people struggling to keep warm, but too many are failing to claim because they don’t think the help on offer is meant for them.  We need to break down those barriers so that more of us claim what we’re entitled to.’’

And during the statement by Energy Secretary, Chris Huhne, on the Fourth Carbon Budget in the House of Commons last week, Mr. Pincher again spoke up in favour of consumers facing bigger bills.  He said:
“I welcome my right hon. Friend’s ambitious announcement. I remind him that in evidence to the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, Lord Turner [Chairman of the Committee on Climate Change] said that our carbon targets might lead to an appreciable increase in domestic energy prices. I urge the Secretary of State to roll out the green deal with all speed to ensure that any domestic energy price increase is offset by the energy saving elements of that green deal.

Mr. Huhne responded making clear he believes the government’s overall policy package will cut bills.  He said:
“I can assure my hon. Friend that we in the ministerial team are absolutely committed to low-cost, affordable electricity. The last assessment the Department made—at the time of the annual energy statement, and we will make another at the next such statement—is that the overall impact of our policies, including energy saving and the effects that my hon. Friend mentioned, will add 1% to the cost of household energy bills in 2020. As it happens, that was posited on a world oil price of $80 a barrel. As he knows, the oil price has moved substantially beyond that. With oil prices and associated gas prices higher than $100 a barrel, our estimate is that our policies will save money for the British household. I am not saying that British households will not face increases in the cost of gas and electricity in future; what I am saying is that the policy mix of energy saving and low-carbon electricity generation will give a better deal to British households than would reliance on imports of variable fossil fuels from volatile parts of the world.”

Afterwards, Mr Pincher added:
“I very much support the government’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions so we live in a cleaner and safer environment, but it is very important that we do add to the burden of hard pressed households.  That is why I am pleased the government is focussing on the Green Deal to ensure any prices increases resulting from carbon targets are offset by energy efficiency cost savings.”