Energy Advice Over Winter
As the weather gets colder and our energy bills get higher, it’s good to know that local community benefit society Energise Sussex Coast (ESC) runs a free Energy Advice service to help local residents bring down the cost of their electricity, gas and water bills.
ESC’s energy experts can also provide advice on energy and water debts; billing support – including talking to suppliers to sort out issues; the best energy and water tariffs and any support schemes people may be eligible for, enabling them to save energy and bring bills down; how to access free or part-funded insulation and energy efficiency measures; boiler replacement or repairs; grants for white goods; and upgrading the energy efficiency of homes using technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps.
Last year, ESC responded to over 9,700 calls to its helpline and distributed over £90,000 in fuel vouchers. Its sister co-op, Energise South, has raised community investment to finance and install solar arrays on nine local community buildings, including Baird Primary School and St Leonards Academy.
A recent user of ESC’s energy advice service says: “Amazing service … [Your advisor] helped me to address a worry with my energy provider about a debt I seemed to have since changing to a smart meter, that wasn’t there before. She also put me forward for a new washing machine [enabled] by a grant, which was so essential and needed as I was very worried about how I would afford one.”
Another says: “Last week I had a chat with Energise Sussex at your advice desk and my water bill has already halved!”
ESC is also urging all local households to check if they need a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm – and to make sure they have a certified, functioning and properly located alarm if they do need one – having recently averted a potentially fatal incident involving a client.
Symptoms of CO poisoning – which are often mistaken for flu – include headache, nausea, dizziness and breathlessness. ESC director Kate Meakin says: “It’s super important that any home with a fuel burning appliance (such as a boiler or a gas cooker) has properly certified and located carbon monoxide alarms – and that they test them regularly.
“At a recent energy advice session in Eastbourne, one of our clients told us that her carbon monoxide (CO) monitor kept going on and off. She’d spoken to her landlord, but they hadn’t taken her seriously. Nothing had been done. Fortunately, our advisor immediately called the gas safety board on 0800 111 999, who went to the client’s home and found that, yes, there was a potentially life-threatening CO leak.
“Our advisor told the client ‘I think I may have saved your life’. The client replied: ‘I think you might’.”
ESC Energy Advice Line: 01424 390062
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