Managing energy bills and heating your home
Understanding fuel poverty
The cost of living crisis has pushed many into fuel poverty including an estimated 13,500 households (22%) in East Lothian alone. Fuel poverty can be described as ‘being unable to afford to heat your home to an adequate temperature’.
Officially a household is in fuel poverty if they spend more than 10% of net income to pay for their reasonable fuel needs after housing costs have been deducted.
For many, fuel poverty means choosing between buying food and heating their home. Often, fuel poverty is linked to increased risk of debt, ill health and social isolation. It may also impact on a child’s education if they are off sick more often or don’t have anywhere warm to study at home.
We understand that fuel poverty can be particularly challenging if you live alone, are elderly, are living with a disability or health issue, on a low income, or just starting out in your first home.
It’s important to us that local residents are warm during winter and we continue to work to minimise the impact of energy bills wherever possible.
Home Energy Scotland offer advice on how to use less energy and reduce costs and make your house warmer.
Find out more about how Home Energy Scotland can help.
East Lothian Energy Advice
For residents who have ongoing or multiple needs including debt, issues with suppliers and metering issues, East Lothian Council have provided funding for a local Energy Advice Service over the 2024/25 period. The service run by Changeworks offers in-depth energy advice, information and advocacy free of charge.
Changeworks’ Affordable Warmth Advisors can support householders with:
Advice and Information:
- In-depth energy advice and energy saving tips.
- Advice on ways to reduce condensation and damp.
- Most efficient use of various heating systems/troubleshooting.
- Metering advice including smart meters, pre-payment meters and ways to pay.
- Signposting and referrals to external agencies for support e.g. income maximisation, debt support, small measures, and housing issues.
- Information and support on changing tariffs and switching suppliers.
Grant Applications:
- Applications to reduce fuel debts and emergency fuel support (including off grid properties).
- Applications to support vulnerable clients for household measures, winter warmers and essentials (subject to availability and location).
- Warm Home Discount applications.
Advocacy Work with Energy Suppliers:
- Payment method review and support in setting up payment plans to manage energy debt.
- In-depth casework to resolve complex billing issues.
- Support with Ombudsman complaints (both submissions and reviews).
- Metering issues and errors including MPRN and MPAN registration issues.
How you can self-refer to the service:
- Using Changeworks’ online referral form: you can refer yourself or a client to the Changeworks Affordable Warmth Services team
- By calling 0800 870 8800, the phone line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
More information is available on the Changeworks website or you can contact Changeworks by email: warmth@changeworks.org.uk.
BeGreen Dunbar Energy Advice Centre
Local to Dunbar and ideal for those who would like some informal in person advice the BeGreen Dunbar Energy Advice Centre is an initiative developed by Community Windpower to help local communities in fighting fuel poverty, reducing domestic carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. Although based in Dunbar their doors are open to all within East Lothian, offering services including:
- Free advice and consultation on how to improve energy efficiency and reduce bills.
- Free home energy assessments.
- Funding & Grants towards energy efficiency.
- Home Installations (e.g., installing insulation, heats pumps and solar technology).
- Help with referrals to various agencies to help people gain as much support as there is available.
For more information on BeGreen Dunbar, you can call into their BeGreen Dunbar Centre (Open Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm located at 55 High Street, Dunbar, East Lothian for an informal chat. Their Community Coordinator, and Energy Assessor, will be happy to discuss any questions that you may have. Additionally, you can also email begreen@communitywindpower.co.uk.
Musselburgh CAB – LEAPS
For households on lower incomes in need of energy advice who would like a home visit, Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau have partnered with LEAP to offer energy appointments. The appointments are available regardless of where you live in East Lothian to those on a disability benefit or households with an income under £31,000. A qualified energy adviser is in place who can attend your property and offer energy advice tailored to your individual circumstances. A short video explaining how LEAPS works is available, giving an overview of what the service offers.
You can get in touch with the energy advisor and ask about getting booked into the scheme by emailing Matthew.Dickie@musselburghcab.org.uk. For more information contact LEAP on 0800 029 4543 or you can also apply online on the LEAPS website.
Haddington CAB
For those looking for in person advice based in Haddington, appointments are available with information and advice on a wide range of areas including the benefits of smart meters, applying for the Warm Home Discount, energy efficiency, how to read meters and/or bills, payment methods, Priority Services Registration, terms and conditions such as fixed term ‘deals’ and penalty charges if leaving a contract early.
Haddington CAB provide help with fuel bill affordability for vulnerable clients and those in or at risk of fuel poverty. They provide advice and support on a variety of energy related issues, as well as assisting clients to maximise their incomes and access other support that may be available to them.
There are also appointments available for more complex advice. For example action on fuel debt, raising disputes with suppliers or taking forward a complaint about suppliers or distributors.
Contact cab@haddingtoncab.org.uk for more information.
East Lothian Housing Association (ELHA)
If you are a tenant of ELHA they have a dedicated Money and Home Energy Advice Service, which is available to all tenants and residents in ELHA homes.
The service offers free, confidential advice to ELHA tenants and members of their household.
Advice offered includes:
- Checking that the tenant is on the right energy tariffs for their heating type, household composition and property type
- Negotiating with creditors on the tenant's behalf
- Helping tenants to access any benefits they may be entitled to
- Building a budget with the tenant to make the most of their money
- Performing a financial 'health check', even if the tenant isn't in any debt
- Advice on any aspect of Money and Home Energy
Our Money and Home Energy Adviser will be happy to help if you have any questions or concerns about benefits, money, utility bills or debt via telephone, email, in the office or a home visit. ELHA tenants can get in touch with the Money & Home Energy Adviser through their My Home account, or by calling on 01620825032, or emailing at enquiries@elha.com
https://www.elha.com/page/money-home-energy-advice-service
Home Energy Scotland
Home Energy Scotland (HES) aims to help Scottish residents create warmer homes, reduce their energy bills and lower their carbon footprint.
HES can refer home-owners to Warmworks for grant funding and/or loans from the Scottish Government to make energy efficiency improvements such as:
- wall insulation
- loft insulation
- draught-proofing
- central heating and renewables
Improvements are offered depending on a survey of the property which is completed by an assessor, who will recommend if and what improvements are suitable for the property. All works are completed by an approved installer.
Funding is available, subject to eligibility, from the Scottish Government but please note this cannot be for works already completed or underway. For more expensive improvements such as solid wall insulation, a contribution is required. Interest free loans are available through the Energy Saving Trust.
Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government’s national fuel poverty scheme. The scheme has helped over 35,000 homes and families across Scotland. Warmworks manages the end-to-end process for customers, from an initial survey that looks at the energy efficiency improvements they could benefit from, through to the installation of these improvements, and a final independent inspection that makes sure they meet quality and safety standards.
To find out if you are eligible visit www.homeenergyscotland.org or call 0808 808 2282.
Help for private tenants
If you are a private tenant and looking for support for fuel costs or would like to find out if your rented property could benefit from upgrades that can be funded through grants/loans to your landlord, you can contact Home Energy Scotland (HES) who can provide you with more information and support.
Find out more about how Home Energy Scotland can help.
Help for landlords
Through a range of Scottish Government funded grants, we are working with landlords in the private rented sector to improve the energy efficiency of their properties.
Improving energy efficiency has a range of benefits including: adding value, making properties more attractive to new tenants and reduction of potential problems such as damp, mould and disrepair, as well as positively contributing to the health and wellbeing of your tenants. Improvement works can include installing external wall insulation on non-traditional properties or cavity wall insulation on mixed tenure blocks throughout the county.
Eligibility for improvements will involve looking at the construction/build of properties and whether the tenants and/or landlord is experiencing fuel poverty (spending more than 10% of income after housing costs on fuel bills). Depending on you and your tenant’s circumstances you may be eligible for a full grant or partial grant with a minimum contribution.
Using the criteria below, if you think you are eligible or want to discuss your options, please contact Home Energy Scotland.
- do you own properties which are rented in the private sector?
- are your properties in Council Tax Bands A-C?
- do you have an EPC rating of D or lower?
- are you and/or your tenants experiencing fuel poverty?
Find out more about how Home Energy Scotland can help.
Managing condensation and preventing mould
Keeping your home warm will reduce the impact of condensation and mould.
Being able to afford to heat your home is important for health, comfort and hygiene as well as maintaining the condition of your property.
We have produced a guide to heating and ventilating your home, washing and drying laundry and tips for the kitchen and bathroom to help minimise condensation and avoid mould becoming a problem, especially during the colder months.
Check out our new guide to managing condensation and mould.
Cold Weather Payment
The Cold Weather Payment is automatically paid to people on low incomes and in receipt of certain benefits to help with heating costs when the temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, colder than zero degrees celsius across seven consecutive days.
Find out more about the Cold Weather Payment.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
The Warm Home Discount Scheme opens in October each year. You may qualify for a reduction in your electricity bill if you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s scheme criteria.
Eligibility for the scheme and the application process is different depending on your circumstances, so for more information contact your energy supplier as early as possible. The number of discounts suppliers offer may be limited.
Find out more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme, including how to apply.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before 25 September 1956 you may qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment to help pay your heating bills.
You will receive your payment automatically if you’re eligible and receive a State Pension or other qualifying social security benefit such as Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, etc.
You will receive a letter from DWP in October or November telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment will be paid, but if you don’t receive a letter and think you may be eligible, please check if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Find out more about the Winter Fuel Payment.
Fuel Bank Foundation
The Fuel Bank Foundation is a UK charity with a focus on those living in fuel poverty and the challenges they face. It provides emergency financial support to families when they face a “fuel crisis” and have used up all of their options for support. Any supplier’s meter is topped up within a couple of hours.
Find out more about the Fuel Bank Foundation.
Priority Services Register
The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free UK wide service which provides extra help during power cuts or when there’s an interruption to your gas, electricity or water supply. Utility companies can provide advance warning of planned interruptions of supplies.
During a power cut, call 105. It’s free of charge and you will be put through to your local network operator who can give you help and advice.