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Media

£4bn Christmas present for the elderly 1 December 2008

The Home Heat Helpline is urging fuel poor households to call the freephone service on 0800 33 66 99 and claim their part of the £4bn national pot to be spent by energy companies over the next three years on free home insulation and other help. Fuel poverty – which particularly affects older people, single parents and those living with disabilities – means that the household spends 10 percent of their income on their fuel bills.

The Helpline is aiming to ensure that fuel poor residents across the country get the free advice they are entitled to and keep warm this winter as temperatures drop and the credit crunch continues to squeeze household budgets. By calling 0800 33 66 99, they will be able to gain direct support from their energy suppliers through reduced tariffs, grants for free home insulation and information about flexible payment options, as well as the disconnection safety net which ensures that vulnerable customers will not be cut off even if they are unable to pay their bill.

Garry Felgate, Chief Executive of the Energy Retail Association, which runs the Helpline, said: “Whilst most people will be concentrating on getting their last minute shopping in the run up to Christmas, there will be a large number of people whose number one priority is just to keep warm.

“I would urge anyone who is concerned about their fuel costs or those of a relative, neighbour or friend, to call the Home Heat Helpline free on 0800 33 66 99 over the Christmas period. We will have advisors on standby throughout the holiday season who can help organise new tariffs, insulation grants and advice and support on how to keep warm and save money on their bills.”

The Home Heat Helpline winter campaign was launched this December by BBC star Richard Wilson, who added: “I’m worried people are not getting the support they are entitled to on energy bills – whether it’s pensioners, single parents or people with disabilities there are special rates, support through free insulation and wider help out there all for the taking. But people need to know what’s available – that’s why I am asking everyone who thinks they may qualify for support to call the free Home Heat Helpline today!”

As part of its winter campaign – coinciding with the peak of the winter period – the stepped-up service will also allow worried householders or their relatives and friends to make online enquiries at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk

For more information, ring the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 or log on to www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.

Ends

Notes to Editors

For further information, photos or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson for the Home Heat Helpline, please contact: Peter Jenkins, Head of Communications and Media Relations, 020 7104 4161 or Claire Gibson, Senior Press Officer, 020 7104 4162

1. The Home Heat Helpline operates from Monday to Friday 9am-8pm and from 10am-2pm on Saturday.

2. The Home Heat Helpline is a free number – 0800 33 66 99 – providing vulnerable customers with a direct link to specialist teams at their energy supplier, who can deliver one or more of the following services:
a. The Priority Service Register which provides extra services for people who are elderly or disabled including bills in large text or Braille, security passwords and an annual gas safety check
b. Grants for free home insulation
c. Flexible payment options for customers in fuel debt
d. Benefits entitlement checks
e. A disconnection safety net which means that vulnerable customers will not be cut off even if they are unable to pay their bill

3. The Home Heat Helpline has received support from Help the Aged, Age Concern, Citizen’s Advice, National Energy Action, Energy Saving Trust, Counsel and Care and One Parent Families/ Gingerbread.

4. The Home Heat Helpline is managed by the Energy Retail Association and paid for by contributions from Britain’s major energy suppliers – see below.

5. The Energy Retail Association (ERA), formed in 2003, represents the major electricity and gas suppliers in the domestic market in Great Britain. All the main energy suppliers operating in the residential market in Great Britain are members of the association – British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, Scottish Power, and Scottish and Southern Energy.