My Home Energy Switch
The National Housing Federation has recently
launched a partnership with uSwitch called My
Home Energy Switch, designed to help residents
save up to £530 on energy bills. My Home Energy
Switch lets you compare energy suppliers simply
and quickly to make sure you are getting the best
price for your gas and electricity. The process
is simple, fast and effective and can be easily
completed in a few minutes via a dedicated
webpage which you can access by clicking here or
the free customer helpline, 0800 051 5346.
The UK has recently been hit by another bitterly cold winter, with temperatures plummeting to the lowest ever recorded in some parts of the UK. The freezing temperatures along with rising gas and electricity prices have made this winter a trying time for so many households.
As a result significant numbers of people have found
themselves in fuel poverty, where they are spending more
than 10% of monthly income (including benefit entitlements)
on their energy bills. As a way of saving money, many have
resorted to turning off their heating, however, this can have
severe health implications, especially for children and older
people.
Although the worst of the weather is behind us, this is the
perfect time to start preparing for next winter by looking at
way to reduce your energy bills, reporting any problems with
your home to Muir e.g. draughty windows and doors, and
looking at which energy companies give you the best price
for your electricity and gas.
Furthermore, if you are in receipt of certain benefits you may
qualify for a Cold Weather Payment. This is a payment of
£25 for every week of cold weather (where the temperature
is recorded as or forecast to be 0 degrees or below). If you
think you should have received this contact the department
that pays your benefits. Also, if you were born on or before
5th July 1950 and in receipt of certain benefits, you may have
also been entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment. This is a lump
sum payment of between £125 - £400 and would have been
automatically paid to you before Christmas. If you think you
should have received this but didn’t then you must make a
claim no later than 30th March 2011. To get a claim form call
08459 151515.
Muir are committed to helping eliminate fuel poverty which
affects some four million households in the UK and will do
all we can to help our residents reduce their fuel costs by
improving homes and providing energy saving advice. If you
would like further information about our Affordable Warmth
Quest or you think you may be in fuel poverty please call
our Customer Service Team on 0300 123 1222 to receive a
free benefits health check, a property efficiency check and
an information pack that gives you advice on ways to reduce
your energy bills.
