• 2010
• 2009
• 2008
• 2007
• 2006
• 2005

Media

Weather the 'coldest day of the year' by calling the Home Heat Helpline 13 January 2009

Today, St Hilary’s Day (13 January) is the coldest day of the year, if Medieval legend is to be believed. To help people stay warm this St Hilary’s Day and for the remainder of the winter, the Home Heat Helpline – on 0800 33 66 99 – is urging those who are most vulnerable to the extreme drops in temperature to get in touch now to access grants for free insulation and special discounted tariffs before the next stage of the big chill hits.

ITV weather presenter Sian Lloyd, who is supporting the helpline, commented:

“While St Hilary’s Day might have come a week too late considering last week’s arctic chills, the fact remains that this January is set to be a cold one, with temperatures below average.

“Unfortunately, those who most need help with their gas and electricity bills this winter find it hardest to find out what free practical help is available. That’s why I’m encouraging anyone who is over 70, disabled or suffering from a long-term illness, as well as one parent and low income families, to call the Home Heat Helpline now for free help.

“The helpline can offer reduced energy tariffs, full grants for insulation and a disconnection safety net that ensures that vulnerable customers will not be cut off even if they are unable to pay their bill.”

To ensure people stay warm this St Hilary’s Day, the Home Heat Helpline has also unveiled the Top 10 practical tips on how to beat the cold and save money on fuel costs this winter. These include:

1. Keep the heat in. A third of warmth lost in your home is through the walls, so insulating them is the best way to save energy in the home. Installing cavity wall insulation can save you up to £160 per year on your heating bills.
2. Say goodbye to the old boiler. If yours is over 15 years old consider switching to a new energy efficient one. High efficiency condensing boilers can save up to a third of your annual heating bills, and there are grants available to help cover the cost.
3. Get on down. Turning your thermostat down by 1°C could cut your heating bills by up to 10 per cent and save you around £100 a year.
4. Don’t get in hot water. Is your water too hot? Your cylinder thermostat shouldn’t need to be set any higher than 60ºC/140ºF.
5. Look up. Laying your loft with 10 inches/25 centimetres of insulation can save you a quarter of your home’s heating costs.
6. See the light. Replacing just one old light bulb with an energy saving recommended one can reduce lighting costs by up to £78 over the lifetime of the bulb. Plus they last up to 12 times longer than the ordinary light bulbs.
7. Turn it off. Don’t leave appliances, like DVD players and TVs on standby and remember not to leave mobiles and ipods on charge unnecessarily. It all adds up and wastes money.
8. Wash wisely. Remember to use the half-load or economy programmes if you’re not filling up the washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher.
9. Care for your kettle. Only boil as much water as you need — but remember to cover the elements if you’re using an electric kettle.
10. Mend the drips. A dripping hot water tap can waste enough hot water to fill half a bath in just one week, so fix leaking taps and make sure they’re all fully turned off.

Dennis Brady, 47, from Newport, who called the helpline, said:

“I suffer from DVT and take medication to thin my blood which causes me to feel the cold all the time. I could hardly use the heating in my own home, and this became a major problem when the nights started to get darker and colder. The helpline led to my getting 20% off all my bills and, when we’re seeing high petrol prices and food bills, this is money I need to live my life.”

June Tovey, 82, from Frome, said:

“I contacted the helpline after the advisors at the citizens advice bureau told me it would be the best way of finding out whether I should be getting a discount on my heating bills as winter came on. After speaking to the advisor at HHH I have had 20% cut off my gas bills and electricity charges. Without that help I’d have had a lot less to spend on Christmas presents and I can tell you that the holiday would have been a lot less comfortable for me.”

Ends

Notes to the Editor

For further information, photos or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson or case study 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 legend of St Hilary’s Day dates back to 1086 when a great frost held the country in its grip until late March. Whether or not the legend proves true, this time of year is often the coldest, leaving those most vulnerable at risk from the drop in temperature.

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. 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.