Dundee SNP

The continuing big chill has sparked a record of calls to a heating helpline by householders anxious about their energy bills it has been revealed.

Nearly 7,000 people have called the Scottish Government’s energy assistance hotline, averaging 428 calls a day.

Dundee Council’s Social Work & Health Convenor Jim Barrie today reminded the public that an extension of the eligibility criteria means more people can benefit.

 Jim Barrie said: “With the cold weather set to continue for some time, it is important that people are aware of the range of assistance that is available.

“I’d encourage anyone who is struggling with fuel bills to pick up the phone and see what help they might be entitled to.

“This might include a package of free measures including energy efficient central heating systems, or a survey for free loft or cavity wall insulation.

“Some households might get help to switch to cheaper fuel tariffs or be helped to access all the benefits and tax credits they are entitled to.

“Energy experts can also give instant practical advice on how to cut bills to all households that contacted the service.

“The message is that there is help for those who might struggle to pay their energy bills from the Scottish Government.”

A Dundee MSP wants to get across to the public that you can get help to pay your energy bills this winter if you think you might find it a struggle to pay them. The politician is helping to draw attention to The Energy Saving Trust which provides grant assistance to low income families struggling to pay their energy bills.

As summer begins to give way to autumn, a major promotional drive this month will promote the service through adverts on TV and radio.

The Scottish Government fund the Trust through the Energy Assistance Package.

Joe FitzPatrick says: “The Energy Saving Trust helps people on low incomes pay their energy bills. It does this by tackling low income through benefit checks. It might be that you or members of your family are not receiving the benefit to which you are entitled so a benefits check could prove worthwhile.

“The Trust also works towards reducing fuel costs through advice about social tariffs. Energy companies operate reduced charges for certain categories of account holder and you might find that you are entitled to reductions in the bills you receive.

“Finally, the Energy Saving Trust aims to improve the energy efficiency of peoples’ homes through advice, insulation and heating measures. These kinds of conservation measures can also save you money and make your home warmer and easier to heat.

“As summer begins to turn into autumn, and colder weather approaches, families on lower incomes should look for assistance with paying their energy bills or making their homes more energy-efficient. To find out what help you may be eligible to receive, call the advice line number 0800 512 012 or visit the website: www.energyassistancepackage.com”

Copies of the Energy Saving Trust leaflets are available at the SNP Parliamentary Offices, 8 Old Glamis Road, Dundee.

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie, who recently expressed concerns at large differences between energy companies on the prices they charge for energy saving insulation schemes has welcomed the commitment of NPower to charge the same for customers and non-customers alike on loft insulation work.
The MP is delighted to learn that NPower’s prices for loft insulation for non-customers is £149 – the same as the cost for customers.
The MP wrote to NPower, British Gas and Powergen last week, after comparing figures supplied by the Energy Saving Trust and Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre, which monitor the prices for services provided by nine different energy companies.
Stewart Hosie said: “As a result of questions raised by constituents, I had been made aware of apparent large differences in the charges which different companies made to their customers and to non-customers – and a disparity between different companies for the same work.
“I am pleased to say that NPower have today informed me that their charges for loft insulation for customers and non-customers alike is the same and that the figures supplied to me from the Energy Saving Trust, which were most recently updated in April, are now out of date.
“I am delighted to hear this and am aware that their reduced prices are the basis of an ongoing campaign running over the summer promoting energy efficiency through house insulation, featuring TV ads starring Wallace and Gromit.
“Although in summer insulating your loft might not seem to be a priority, NPower are doing their bit to help energy conservation, in collaboration with Rockwool and Build Center, by offering various deals and reductions, including the £149 charge for loft insulation, which includes installation.
“I am awaiting replies for the other companies I wrote to and hope that they too have some good news for their customers. There were4 considerable differences in prices for the same work.
“For example, British Gas charge their customers £250 for top-up Loft insulation where N Power charge £149 for the same work.
“There are even more marked differences in the charges which some companies are asking for non-customers.
“Not all the companies do this. Charges by NPower, Scottish & Southern Energy (which includes Scottish Hydro Electric) and Scottish Power are the same for customers and non-customers alike.
“I am also awaiting a reply from the Scottish Government on what action they might take on the issue of marked price differentials.”

Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie has expressed concern at large differences between energy companies on the prices they charge for energy saving insulation schemes. The MP believes that some companies are profiting by overcharging some categories of customer for work which they could have had done at up to half the price elsewhere.
Stewart Hosie said: “As a result of questions raised by constituents, I have been made aware of large differences in the charges which different companies make to their customers and to non-customers – and the large disparity between different companies for the same work.
“Using information supplied by the Energy Saving Trust and Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre, which monitor the prices for services provided by energy companies, I was able to compare prices charged by nine different companies for similar work on home insulation schemes.
“For example, British Gas charges their customers £250 for top-up Loft insulation where N Power charge their customers £149 for the same work.
“There are even more marked differences in the charges which companies are asking for non-customers. For the same work which N Power charge their customers £149 for, they will charge non-customers £365; more than double.
“Not all the companies do this. Charges by Scottish & Southern Energy (which includes Scottish Hydro Electric) and Scottish Power are the same for customers and non-customers alike.
“Clearly some companies operate huge differences in prices and I feel this needs to be looked at. I also suspect that the work is actually being carried out by the same contractors irrespective of which company is charging the customer for it. This may lead to some constituents paying more than others for the same work.
“I will write to British Gas, N Power and Powergen, who appear to be the worst culprits and ask why their customers’ prices are more expensive than the average.
“I will also seek an explanation as to why they charge so much more for non-customers than they do for customers.
“I also intend to raise this with the Scottish Government and ask what action they might take on the issue.”

A Dundee Councillor spoke out today after a news story revealed that an elderly constituent had been left without heat in his sheltered house on more than 60 occasions in the past year.

Dundee Councillor Jim Barrie whose West End Ward includes Ancrum Place, said today: “I will be contacting Mr Melville to get further details of why so many visits by workmen and council officials failed to rectify the problem.

“It is extremely worrying that a pensioner with serious health problems should be left without heat on so many occasions in a particularly cold winter.

“It is bad enough that the UK Government have made little effort to alleviate the rising cost of energy bills, but to be unable to obtain any heating in the first place is a disgrace.

“I will be making urgent inquiries with the Repairs Section of Contract Services to find out the precise nature of the problem with the heating system in Mr Melville’s sheltered house and to ensure urgent action is taken to end his plight.

“I have had several complaints from other constituents who have been facing heating system failure in the last two weeks but this case is particularly worrying.”