Transcript Slide 1

Tackling Fuel Poverty - The
Neath Port Talbot
Experience
Neath Port Talbot Welfare Rights Unit
• A community interest and ‘not for profit’
company
• Working together with strategic partners
and local companies in Wales
• Assisting housing providers and home
owners to tackle the misery of fuel poverty
• The only scheme that is supported by Neath Port Talbot
Council along with npower and National Grid.
• The project helps all residents living in Neath Port Talbot
to take part in the scheme. If you qualify, you could
benefit from:
• FREE cavity wall insulation
• FREE loft insulation
Everyone that takes part can have FREE benefit and
FREE energy efficiency advice and FREE energy
efficient light bulbs.
‘Bringing Warm Homes to NPT’
• Phase1 – 2004 – 2007
• The primary aim was to help reduce the
number of people in fuel poverty in the
borough by applying energy efficiency
measures to 80% of the fuel poor
homes by September 2007
Phase 2 – 2007 – 2009
Continue to reduce fuel poverty in
Neath Port Talbot
Summary of Progress to Date
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Nearly 50,000 homes assessed and over 28,000 insulation measures
installed
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Over £2 million claimed in new or extra benefits
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Every Home has received Energy Efficiency packs
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Over 50 local community groups have had energy efficiency talks
and over 360 householders have had energy efficiency home visits
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Installed 243 new gas supplies
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Installed 575 new gas central heating systems
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Gas supply mains extension project in Seven Sisters is complete
National Energy Action (NEA)
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NEA promotes energy efficiency services
Partnership working
Aims to eradicate fuel poverty
NPT WRU actively involved with NEA
www.nea.org.uk
£500 Warm Homes Grant
City & Guilds training in energy efficiency
Social Tariff and Grants
Neath Port Talbot Welfare Rights Unit
Amanda Lewis
Introduction
It was noticed that there was a significant need to help
the residents of Neath Port Talbot by ensuring that they are
on the correct tariff with their existing energy supplier. This
was a pilot scheme from November 2008 to February 2009.
What is a Social Tariff?
Ofgem Definition:
All energy providers have to offer social
tariffs to help their most vulnerable
customers cope with the high costs of
gas and electricity. And according to
new Ofgem rules, all social tariffs must
equal the supplier’s cheapest deals.
Energy Suppliers qualifying factors:
- Over 60
- Children Under 16
- In receipt of qualifying benefits
- Fuel Poor
Referrals
• The total number of Neath Port Talbot residents
referred to the Social Tariff Team has to date
reached 650. These referrals came from the
following sources:
Source
Number of Referrals
Percentage of
Referrals
Benefit Letters
476
73%
Events
96
15%
Welfare Rights Unit
56
9%
Others
22
3%
Total
650
100%
• Householders within Neath Port Talbot are unaware
of the variety of tariffs available to them by their
energy suppliers and in particular the Social Tariff that
their utility supplier offers.
• The team have identified that 41% of households that
were contacted actually qualified for their energy
suppliers Social Tariff.
• Each householder would save 35% per annum
against the Standard Tariff with their supplier if on
dual fuel.
HEES - Wales
• Home Energy Efficiency Scheme
• Government funded
• Provides package of heating & insulation
up to £3600
• Provided heating & insulation to over
70,000 people
• Must meet qualifying criteria
Charis Grants
• Social enterprise organisation currently
managing four trust funds:
• Anglian Water Trust Fund
• British Gas energy trust (including Scottish
gas energy trust)
• EDF Energy Trust
• Eos Foundation
Application and Assessment
Process
Complete application form containing details of
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Who they are
Financial situation
What they are applyin for help with
Reasons they are facing difficulties
Difference a grant will make to situation
Charis contact details
• Information Line – 01733 421050
• Application request Line – 01733 421060
• E-mail – [email protected]
• Web Site – www.charisgrants.com
• Write to – PO Box 42, Peterborough, PE3 8XH
Fuelling Kids
Neath Port Talbot Welfare Rights Unit
Jasmine Hopkins
Fuelling Kids
• ‘Fuelling Kids’ - £72,000 over 2 years from
the Scottish Power Energy People Trust
• Attending NEA events gave us awareness
of funding possibilities
• The Project started on March 1st 2009
Fuelling Kids
• ‘Fuelling Kids’ will target hard to reach
families and maximise benefit income with
particular emphasis on fuel poverty and
energy efficiency
• Working in partnership with Communities
First partnership and schools
Fuelling Kids
• Launching the project
• Rolling the project out and making contact
with Community First Co-ordinators and
Schools
• Promoting benefit advice, debt advice and
energy efficiency