Advisors on hand to help Lincolnshire households save big on energy bills this winter

The timely and welcome offer during the uncertain times of the pandemic is being made by Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire, which covers Boston, Sleaford and North Hykeham, as well as Sleaford-based YMCA/Community Lincs.

Their teams will be helping people reduce their energy bills and save money as part of the Big Energy Saving Winter campaign, running from November to January.

Staff and volunteers across the Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire region and from YMCA/Community Lincs will be supporting local people to follow three simple steps to prepare for the winter ahead:-

○● Check to see if they are eligible for discounts, grants and support

○● Switch their tariff or energy supplier to get the best deal

○● Save money by becoming more energy efficient

Citizens Advice are offering individuals and groups the chance to join in with a specially designed online presentation that will lead you through the check, switch and save messages. They can tell you whether a cheaper tariff is available or whether you can save money by switching suppliers. They can check whether you are available for a discount or grant and explain how to make your home more energy efficient. And they will talk to you about Smart Meters and some quick and easy ways of saving money within the home.

YMCA/Community Lincs will be attending virtual outreach sessions organised by partner organisations during the next three months to take the check, switch, save message out to the local community. As well as providing information and advice through their websites, Facebook and Twitter.

If you are holding virtual community sessions for your group and would like the advisers to attend contact: [email protected]

This year, Big Energy Saving Winter is also calling on energy super savers, who have made savings to their own bills, to help their relatives, friends and neighbours to check, switch and save on their energy bills. Free resources and advice will enable energy super savers to help protect the UK’s most vulnerable people.

As Big Energy Saving Winter 2020 kicks off, new research shows that one in three (35 per cent) bill payers say they are using more energy than they usually would at this time of year. This is likely due to so many people working from home or on furlough due to the coronavirus restrictions.

Janet Clark, Senior Rural officer at YMCA/Community Lincs, said: “With many people using more energy than normal it’s crucial no-one is paying more than they need to for their energy.”

Kingsley Taylor, chief executive of Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire said: “Energy is an essential service and everyone should be confident they can adequately heat their home and protect their health. It’s crucial no-one is paying more than they need to for their energy especially during this global pandemic when many of us are spending more time at home.

“Switching energy suppliers is one of the quickest ways for us all to make sure we’re not paying more than we need to. But our advisers are also on hand to help make sure people are getting any extra grants and benefits they might be entitled to and to look at ways to make people’s homes more energy efficient.”

Like so many other organisations, Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire have devised new ways of working and can offer the Big Energy Saving details via an online presentation. They are offering the presentations at various times throughout

the winter months and in order to join them and take advantage of this free impartial advice, people simply need to contact: [email protected]

The Big Energy Saving Winter is delivered by Citizens Advice, Energy Saving Trust and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).