As fuel bills continue to rise, we all need to focus on making sure we are not wasting money on our home energy, whilst keeping warm at home. As a council we are committed to helping our residents manage their fuel bills and keep warm and well.
Dudley Energy Advice Line offers information, advice and support, including:
• Understanding bills, tariffs and switching options • Providing energy efficiency tips on a room-by-room basis to assist with trying to reduce usage • Providing grants and accessing funding for insulation measures and replacement heating systems • Checking residents are claiming and receiving all energy rebates and discounts that they are eligible for • Offering debt and budgeting advice and practical support in finding solutions for fuel debt • Providing crisis measures such as fuel vouchers, supermarket vouchers, heated blankets, temporary heating etc. • Setting heating controls to improve efficiency • Advising on the causes of condensation and how to alleviate it. • Supporting residents in complaint processes to energy companies.
Our energy saving booklet offers lots of information and handy tips - you can download it below.
The link between ill health and fuel poverty has been clearly established. A cold indoor environment increases the incidence of ill health. We are committed to helping our residents achieve affordable warmth by highlighting grants and discount schemes and offering advice on energy efficiency.
If you are in debt with your energy supplier, try not to worry, don't hide from it and do take action sooner, rather than later. There is lots of advice and support on offer.
As soon as you are struggling get in touch with your energy supplier and let them know. They will do their best to help you and keep you on supply. Budgeting advice and help with energy debt is also on offer from:
If you are in a vulnerable group - over 65 or have a long term health condition, or disability, you can get registered on the Priority Services Register. This will ensure that your home energy cannot be cut off. Other support is also available. Simply contact your energy supplier to register, or call Dudley Energy Advice Line and we will help you.
There are a number of grants and discount schemes available to homeowners, private tenants and private landlords which can help to make homes more energy efficient. These include helping with such things as new boilers, cavity wall and loft insulation, and draught proofing the home.
For free impartial advice on energy saving and what could be available to you contact Dudley’s Energy Advice Line.
The Winter Warmth Support Scheme from Dudley Energy Advice Line aims to help keep vulnerable people warm and well during the winter months. Anyone concerned about getting cold themselves, or worried about a friend, relative or neighbour can call and request assistance.
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is an obligation on energy suppliers to support households to cut their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions by installing energy saving measures. It is aimed at households who are living in fuel poverty, on a low income and vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.
Part of ECO allows Councils to set their own criteria to determine which households are supported. This is known as LA Flexible Eligibility (LA Flex) and allows residents to be offered measures who wouldn’t usually be entitled to grant funding. Funding is only available to private tenure households (i.e. private rented sector and owner occupiers. Social and local authority housing is excluded from flexible eligibility). Dudley Council’s eligibility criteria can be read in our current Statement of Intent below.
Contractors and installers prior to working in the Dudley borough must inform the Council and read the LA Flex Guidance for Contractors.
Dudley’s Big Switch is a collective energy switching scheme designed to bring communities together to secure discounted tariffs from energy providers.
The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) is a government funded grant scheme for owner occupiers in England. It provides energy efficiency upgrades and low carbon heating to low-income households living in homes that do not have a mains gas heating system.
