Nottinghamshire charity supports households affected by energy price cap increase
The new energy price cap has been confirmed to go up by 13 per cent, meaning an average increase on energy bills of £221 to around £1,862 per year.
And Nottinghamshire Charity Groundwork Five Counties is encouraging any households in the East Midlands worried by the effect of this to use its free Green Doctor energy advice service.
This increase will come into effect from July 1 and is influenced by a range of factors, mostly notably the recent rise in cost of wholesale energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.
This is the highest summer rise in four years.
The Green Doctor is a charity service with a team of 18 energy experts, supporting thousands of households every year through funded home visits with bespoke advice.
Debbie Parry, Green Doctor team leader, said: “The common thread is that many people can’t afford their bills or are frustrated by constantly changing costs.
“We can help by checking the tariff you’re on is right for you and explore better alternatives, such as fixed tariffs or suppliers with lower standing charges.
“We explain all the options in depth, so people can make an informed decision and be better off.
“We’ll also check if people are eligible for government benefits and supplier discounts they may not know about, as these are often not advertised.
“We can often save people hundreds of pounds a year.”
Michael Blackham, Green Doctor team leader, adds: “If your bills are high, it’s important to look at the energy efficiency of your home.
“We can install free energy-saving items like radiator foil to keep heat in, LED lights that can save £5 per bulb annually, draught excluders on letterboxes, windows and doors, and more.
“There are also lots of easy changes you can make at home.
“Some quick wins are keeping showers to a maximum of four minutes, only filling the kettle to what you need, washing at 30 degrees, reducing your boiler flow to 60 degrees, and understanding and using your heating system and controls efficiently.”
The Green Doctor service is available anywhere in the East Midlands to people of any age and background, whether they own their home, rent, or are a council or social housing tenant.
For more information and to get a free home visit, visit groundwork.org.uk/fivecounties/green-doctor