There were a number of important measures announced within the Programme
Energy efficiency measures, Social Tariffs and Cold Weather Payment measures
- Help is now available for families to make savings of up to £300 a year (around a quarter) on their energy bills – 2 million homes will benefit over the next three years
- Every household qualifies for at least 50% off loft and cavity wall insulation and a range of other energy saving devices such as low energy light bulbs, real time displays and energy saverplugs; 11 million lower income and pensioner households qualify for these free of charge.
- A new £350 million Community Energy Saving Programme will be launched in around 100 fuel-poor areas to go street-by-street through communities offering free and discounted central heating, energy efficiency measures and benefit checks.
- A £74 million increase in funding for the Government’s Warm Front programme, offering free central heating and energy efficiency which can help eligible households save up to £180 a year.
- Cold weather payments for the most vulnerable will be increased from £8.50 to £25 a week.
- Thousands of households will be offered discounted home energy audits to identify how they can make their homes more efficient.
- To make sure people across the country can take advantage of the help on offer and save as much money as possible, the Government will run a national TV and press information campaign to publicise what help is available. We will also encourage people to switch suppliers and move to direct debit – which could save an average of £150 per household currently on pre-payment meters and £100 for households on standard credit. £560m of new help for families to improve energy efficiency and insulation, through a 20% increase in the energy efficiency obligation, which will benefit up to 2m more households;
Cold Weather Payments
Cold Weather Payments are payable by the Government to pensioner and vulnerable households in extremely cold weather
The Government announces today that Cold Weather Payments will be raised this year from £8.50 to £25 a week. The system of Cold Weather Payments will also be reviewed before winter 2009.
Winter Fuel Payments
Today’s package comes on top of an extra £600m of help for the elderly and vulnerable this winter:
- The Government is providing an additional £50 for the winter fuel payment to all pensioners (and an extra £100 for the over 80s) – total spending £575 million – as announced in the Budget
- Around 600,000 customers are expected to benefit from discounted bills by the end of the year, as a result of the agreement between the Government and the energy companies for an additional £225 million spending on reduced tariffs and other social programmes over three years. Around three quarters of these tariffs are being frozen this winter.
- We will work with business to increase the number of people on direct debits, saving an average of £100-150 a year per household on bills
- We will consult on legislation if, having considered the evidence, we consider that it is necessary to ensure that those using pre-payment meters do not face unjustifiably higher tariffs than other customers using other payment method.
By calling the ‘Act on CO2’ helpline on 0800 512 012, everyone can find out about the offers that are available in their local area
The Focus of the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES)
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) is a Welsh Assembly Government funded initiative aimed at making homes in Wales warmer, healthier and more energy efficient. The HEES grant provides a package of heating and insulation improvements up to the value of £3,600.
HEES has made a real difference to the lives of more than 70,000 people by providing heating and insulation improvements to their homes.
To find out if you are able to claim a HEES grant, please click here.
You can also call freephone 0800 316 2815 to find out more information
