Energy Savings
Why not see if you can save money by switching your energy provider or capping your rates. Simply switching your energy provider could save you £££’s. By capping or fixing your rates could mean you lock into a cheaper rate and could save in the long term.
Did you know?
By using the same energy provider for both your electricity and gas (duel fuel) could save you £££’s with some energy providers.
You can also get further discounts by paying for your fuel by direct debit with some energy providers.
Some energy providers offer further discounts to those customers that pay for their fuel by direct debit and manage their accounts online.
By providing regular meter readings for both your gas and electric to your supplier ensures that you pay the correct amount. Sometimes your energy provider may use estimated readings if this is the case there will be a letter ‘E’ after the reading on your gas and electric bill. This means your supplier has guessed the energy you have used and you could be charged the wrong amount.
Pre payment meters are the most expensive way to pay for your fuel. Pre payment meter use is high amongst housing association tenants. This payment method is often £300 to £400 more expensive a year than other payment methods. Irwell Valley has recently wrote out to Local MP's urging them to sign the EDM 918 motion to equalise pre payment meter tariffs to other tariffs.
Those that use a token pre payment meter may not be able to switch energy supplier unless they have a modern meter fitted. Companies are required to do this for free and anyone who has a token pre payment meter, is advised to get it changed as quickly as possible.
The Warm Home Discount scheme is a new rebate that customers can get off their electricity bills to try to tackle increasing energy costs for vulnerable customers. The rebate replaces social tariffs and is offered by the main energy suppliers. Customers who are already on social tariffs will remain on this for the next 3 years and this process should be automatic. To check if your supplier is offering this scheme and also the criteria for each supplier
please click here.
If you are aged 60 or over you may be entitled to a winter fuel payment to help keep you warm this winter, click the link to find out more information:
How to save?
Start comparing prices and visit an accredited Internet price comparison service such as:
Money Saving Expert
Money Super Market
The National Housing Federation has teamed up with uSwitch to help residents save money on energy bills. You can also call 0800 051 5346 to compare prices from all UK energy suppliers.
For more information visit
www.consumerfocus.org.uk or call Emma Oldham, Financial Inclusion Officer at Irwell Valley on 01204 454915 or 07747664206.
'Switch On'
'Switch On' with IVHA is an event that focuses on energy saving tips and fighting fuel poverty, and will be coming to a neighbourhood near you soon, please call Emma Burke, Financial Inclusion Officer at Irwell Valley on 01204 454915 or 07747 664206 for more information.
Irwell Valley customer Nichola Fletcher, told Radio Manchester how she fell into fuel poverty and the help she received when Irwell Valley’s Switch On event visited her area.
To listen to the interview, click here.
If you would like to receive an Irwell Valley Customer Energy Guide, which is full of energy saving tips and advice, then please complete the form below and we will send you one through the post.