1. Keep Herefordshire Warm Getting Households Out of Fuel Poverty Oliver Rothwell Marches Energy Agency

2. Award winning social enterprise and charity Train, educate, inspire, challenge, in the field of energy efficiency and fuel poverty Strong partnerships with Councils, Housing Associations and other Voluntary Sector organisations Established 1997 Marches Energy Agency

3. What is fuel poverty? How to identify people in need What you can do to help people get out of fuel poverty Keep Herefordshire Warm Getting Households Out of Fuel Poverty Call Free on 0800 677 1432

4. What is fuel poverty? The Government’s new definition for fuel poverty is the ‘Low Income, High Cost’ (LIHC) household. Under LIHC a Household is classed as fuel poor if; They have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level) Were they to spend that amount, they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line. Older definition widely used: Household spending more than 10% of income on fuel

5. The prevalence of fuel poverty 14.1% or over 1 in 10 households in Herefordshire are fuel poor. 11,098 of 78,628 households. This percentage is higher than the figure for England as a whole and also higher than that for the West Midlands region. Herefordshire is harder hit than its neighbours. WHY????? Local Authority Area Fuel Poor Households % of Fuel Poor Herefordshire 11,09814.1% Shropshire 17,22213.2% Worcester 5,11212.1% West Midlands 319,99713.9%

6. Fuel poverty by locality

7. The Effects of Fuel Poverty Excess Winter Mortality  Winter 2013-14 – 43,900 EXCESS deaths in England and Wales. Highest since 1999.  Increase of 25,000. 27% more deaths in the winter period, compared with the non- winter period.  Excess Winter Mortality (EWM) = winter deaths – average non-winter deaths  Hypothermia is not the main cause of excess winter mortality. Majority are caused by cerebrovascular diseases, ischaemic heart disease and respiratory diseases.

8. Fuel Poverty – Public Health Issue Countries with more energy efficient housing have lower Excess Winter Deaths (EWD’s).  There is a relationship between EWD’s, low thermal efficiency of housing and low indoor temperatures.  Approximately 40% of EWD’s are attributed to cardio-vascular diseases while 33% are attributable to respiratory problems.  There is a strong relationship between cold temperatures and such cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.  Children living in cold homes are twice as likely to suffer from a respiratory illness than those living in a warm home.  Mental health is negatively affected by cold homes, across all demographics. The Marmot Review - Health Impacts of Cold Homes. 2011

10. Evidence of Fuel Poverty to look out for : A: Increased vulnerability to cold  Long-term conditions  Respiratory Illnesses  Heart disease  Stroke  Recent falls & accidents  Immobility  Pregnancy  Elderly  Babies/young children

11. Evidence of Fuel Poverty to look out for: B: Things people say/do:  Their home is usually cold  Their home is usually draughty  Fuel bills are too high  Owes money for fuel  Uses prepayment meter to avoid running up debt  Stays in bed for the majority of the day to keep warm  Sits with hot water bottle to keep warm  Seeks warmth elsewhere  Heating system not working

12. Evidence of Fuel Poverty to look out for: C: House Condition  The home is cold/draughty  The home smells of damp  There’s no visible form of heating  Only one room is heated  Ventilators are blocked up or covered  Your patient/client wears lots of clothes indoors  The curtains are closed in the day to conserve heat  Signs of damp/condensation on the windowsills  Mould and damp can be seen on walls, ceilings etc.

13. The Solution to Fuel Poverty Fuel Poverty and Excess winter deaths are largely preventable.  Keeping warm outside needs a combination of warm clothing and being physically active.  Keeping warm indoors needs a combination of adequate heating, insulation and ventilation to ensure comfortable temperatures and humidity levels. By:  Improve the efficiency of the home so that it can be warmed with less energy  Reduce the cost of energy so that people can afford to use more fuel to keep their homes warm  Increase income  Reduce expenditure in other areas so that more money is available for fuel

14. Improving the Energy Efficiency of the home  Loft insulation minimum of 10 inches. Nearly 30% of heat is lost through a poorly insulated roof. Save up to £140 per year by insulating your loft.  Cavity wall insulation prevents up to 35% of heat being lost and can save you up to £160 per year.  Solid wall insulation can be done on the inside or the outside of the house. Grants and assistance are increasing. Saving up to £260 per year on bills.  Replacing inefficient boilers can save £340 a year (from G – A rated).

15. Improving the Energy Efficiency of the home  Switch off lights in rooms with nobody in £55  Switch off standby lights on TVs, computers, X-box, etc. when not in use £30  Make sure the heating is timed to come on only when there are people in the house £100  Close fridge/freezer door as quickly as possible to keep the cold air in £5  Use the tumble dryer less £40  Only boil as much water as you need in the kettle (use a cup to measure it out) £15  Use radiator valves to turn down heat in less used rooms (hallway & bedrooms) £70  Use lids on saucepans £5  Turn heating thermostat down by 1ºC (room temperature should be 18-21ºC) £50  Wear a jumper inside rather than turn heating up £10

16. What financial help is available  Energy Company Obligation (ECO) free or heavily discounted measures to vulnerable people; vulnerable places; and vulnerable properties.  Loft and cavity wall grants (subject to g’ment changes).  Warm Home Discount Scheme £140 discount on electricity bills, under certain criteria.  Cold Weather Payment made when your local temperature is zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days, for certain benefits.  ‘Surviving Winter Grants’ AGE UK & Rural Community Council to help those in need with winter fuel bills.  Priority Service Register – a range of free services provided by fuel suppliers for qualifying customers

17. What is Keep Herefordshire Warm?  A scheme ran by Marches Energy Agency, on behalf of Herefordshire Council.  Over-the-phone advice on:  Insulation enquiries,  Tariff switching  General energy efficiency advice  Affordable warmth measures  Problems with heating and hot water  Fuel bills and fuel debt  Energy efficiency and renewable technologies  Information on grants available and checking householder eligibility for grants.

18. Big Energy Saving Network Frontline Workers Presentation Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014

19. Session objectives Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 To explain: payment and tariff options how to switch payment method and/ or tariff further assistance available – help with paying fuel bills, fuel debt advice or improving energy efficiency

20. Payment options Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 Check with existing supplier to see if there is a cheaper way of paying. Cash/ cheque – quarterly/ monthly Direct Debit – fixed/ variable – quarterly/ monthly Standing Order Online account Budget scheme/ Cash Plan Prepayment meter Third Party Deduction – Fuel Direct

21. Tariff options Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 Consider choosing a cheaper tariff with the existing supplier or another company. Tariff types: Standard variable single rate with a standing charge Time of Use (e.g. Economy 7, White Meter) Prepayment Fixed term ‘Green’ Suppliers can offer two cash discounts: Dual fuel Online

22. True or False? Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 Switch supplier and they’ll dig up the road to lay new pipes. If you switch you can only pay for your fuel using Direct Debit. You can switch if you use a prepayment meter and are in debt up to £500. You cannot find the best energy deals unless you have a computer. Changing supplier should take five weeks.

23. Why consider Switching? Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 Get the best possible deal – why pay more than is necessary? Consumers who have never changed payment method or supplier could be paying more than they need to Fuel prices are rising Winter is approaching Householders need to be able to heat their home for comfort and health Ofgem’s reforms – fewer and simpler tariff options – good time to switch

24. Switching – myth busting Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 I’ll be disconnected The pipes and wires will have to be changed I cannot switch because I owe my supplier money I’ll need new meters They’ll need to come into the house They’ll dig up my garden It’s all very complicated and takes ages I rent my home, pay my own gas and electricity bills, but cannot switch

25. Switching – impartial and accurate advice Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 Use an accredited switching site – Ofgem Code of Confidence The information can be provided online or by telephone. To ensure the consumer gets accurate information they will need : the name of their current tariff their payment method how much energy they used over the last year property postcode

26. How to switch Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014 Switch using an internet comparison site or contact the supplier. New supplier contacted directly or via comparison site Contract agreed over telephone, online or signed face-to-face New supplier contacts current supplier New supplier confirms start date and requests meter reading Consumer receives bill from current supplier and pays Switch should take 21 calendar days, after a 14 day cooling- off period when contract can be cancelled. Cooling-off period

27. For clients or Frontline workers Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014

28. Questions? Copyright Big Energy Saving Network 2014