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Media

As arctic freeze grips UK, £4bn hotline is set to help the most vulnerable 6 January 2009

In spite of freezing temperatures, 60% of householders admit they are wasting heat through lack of insulation

As the Met Office issues severe weather warnings that temperatures will plummet to lows of -11C, the Home Heat Helpline has responded by stepping up support for those most vulnerable to the cold, including pensioners, young families and people living with disabilities.

By calling the freephone number, 0800 33 66 99, those suffering from fuel poverty, or people concerned about friends or relatives, can access free grants for insulation, reduced energy tariffs and a disconnection safety net to ensure they are not exposed during the most crucial week of the winter period.

A range of new services have been built into the national hotline in response to concerns raised by new figures showing that as many as 60% of Britons believe their home is not fully insulated against heat loss. For less-well off households, the costs of investing in insulation against the winter freeze can be daunting – prompting the launch of new ways for families and friends to arrange up-front grants through the helpline for those most in need.

Garry Felgate, Chief Executive of the Energy Retail Association, which runs the Home Heat Helpline, commented:

“As Arctic weather grips Britain, we are urging those most in need of help with their gas and electricity bills to call the Home Heat Helpline to get independent help and support with their energy bills. The Home Heat Helpline will also accept calls or online inquiries from a relative or friend, a carer or someone who works with a vulnerable person.”

To find out more call 0800 33 66 99 or visit www.homeheathelpline.org.uk.

Notes to editors 1. 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

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

3. 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

4. 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.

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

6. £4 billion energy efficiency scheme

As part of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), the six major energy companies agree to spend nearly £4 billion between 2008 and 2011 on energy efficiency measures including home insulation. Vulnerable customers (including the elderly, disabled, families on low incomes and those with long term health conditions) are eligible for free energy efficiency measures, while other customers can access these measures at subsidised prices. The scheme was originally valued at £2.7 billion; however suppliers committed an extra £225 million in the 2008 budget and a further £900 million in September 2008 totalling more than £3.8 billion.

6. 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.