Energy advice

Energy advice

High gas and electricity prices are a causing concern for many residents and businesses.

On this page:

There are several ways you may be able to reduce your energy costs, including:

  • taking simple steps to reduce the energy you use
  • making your home more energy efficient
  • applying for free help and support

Charities, energy companies and the regulator Ofgem all offer free advice.

Our team may also be able to help you access grants or support from a range of schemes.

Support you can access yourself

Traditional prepayment meters and the Energy Bill Support Scheme

Many households on traditional prepayment meters are missing out on the government's Energy Bill Support Scheme - £160 million has not been claimed.

Traditional prepayment meter customers should have been sent a voucher for £66 or £67 every month from October 22 to March 23 totalling £400.

Vouchers expire after 90 days but you can ask your supplier to reissue any lost, missing or expired vouchers. But the deadline to request and redeem vouchers is 30 June 2023.

Help with prepayment energy costs

If your prepayment meters are about to run out of credit and you don't have any funds to top up, you need to contact your energy supplier.

Your supplier will be able to issue a credit voucher or extend your emergency credit.

If your supplier tells you that they can't help, you can ask the Citizens Advice extra help unit to speak to them on your behalf:

Save energy at home and reduce your bills

Information on saving energy and reducing your bills at home is available online from many sources.

This advice can help you to:

    Sustainable Warmth - apply for energy upgrades to your home

    The council has secured an additional £4.14million from the Government to build on the delivery of the £3million Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (GHG LAD) scheme and the £1million Sustainable Warmth scheme (LAD3 and HUG1.) 

    The new funding will be delivered via the current Sustainable Warmth scheme arrangements and is targeted at residents who: 

    • own their homes or rent from a private landlord;
    • do not have mains gas central heating;
    • have a gross household income of £31,000 per year or less;
    • live in homes with a low energy rating (an EPC of D/E/F/G)

    The scheme can fund measures such as wall, loft and floor insulation, low carbon heating and solar panels.

    Applications will be open soon. To register interest please email our delivery partner Warmworks at newcastlesustainablewarmth@warmworks.co.uk

    Apply for money off low carbon heating technologies

    Check the Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance and  how to apply.

    Advice for business

    The energy regulator Ofgem offers a general guide to business gas and electricity use.

    Support we offer

    Broken boiler replacements

    Residents can be referred to the LEAP scheme (formerly ECHO) if:

    • they are a home owner with a broken boiler; AND
    • they claim a means tested benefit OR have a gross household income under £31,000 per year; AND
    • they are aged over 65 OR aged under 5 OR suffering from cancer, terminal illness, cardiovascular or respiratory condition,  disability (affecting mobility) or a mental health condition;

     The LEAP scheme will be open until around the end of May 2023. Please email our domestic advice team to enquire.

    Energy advice and grants

    Our Energy Services team provides expert advice and support for residents and businesses in Newcastle.

    This includes work to:

    • improve energy efficiency
    • help households to keep warm at a reasonable cost (reduce fuel poverty)
    • offer energy saving and fuel debt advice

    If you have been unable to find the support you need please contact us:

    Free business energy audit

    Small and medium sized businesses in Newcastle can also apply for a free energy audit through our business energy saving team (BEST)

    This will:

    • identify potential energy improvements and savings
    • develop a plan to help you achieve them
    • help your firm access funding for energy improvements
    • cut your greenhouse gas emissions

    Please note that while the first phase of the BEST programme is now complete, businesses can also continue to register their interest, for potential future support.

    Advice for landlords and tenants

    Our private rented service offers free advice and support to help landlords ensure their properties meet legal requirements.

    They also can support tenants who have problems with energy efficiency or heating systems.

    Find out more on our minimum energy efficiency standards page.

    If you rent your home from Your Homes Newcastle you can access extra support, including an energy saving check up.

    Crisis support

    Our crisis support scheme provides support for people who have suffered an emergency that has left them:

    • without access to vital necessities
    • at a health and safety risk
    • unable to secure funding from any other source

    Heating is considered a vital necessity and being without it could be potentially harmful.

    Find out more about crisis support, benefits and other ways you can get help on our cost of living support page.

    Other financial support

    You may be eligible to receive extra help with your energy bills, these payments will be made automatically you should not need to apply, including:

    Energy Company Obligation apply for funding to improve your home's energy rating - NB check out our Sustainable Warmth scheme first 

     

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