South west energy firm offering free efficiency tips
Residents across the region can now get an energy saving expert to visit their home, at no cost
As winter temperatures start to really set in, an energy firm based in the South West is offering cost saving advice, for free.
A new scheme being launched today by Bristol based Ovo allows residents in the region to request a visit from an expert, who will then evaluate their home's energy efficiency.
The firm says simple changes could save a three-bed household £260 a year.
You don't have to be an Ovo customer to sign up for a visit and there is no obligation to pay for anything once you have had one.
It comes as recent polling suggests 88 percent of people surveyed want more help to manage their energy bills, and 76 percent have made it their number one priority for saving money in 2023.
Alex Doorey is Ovo's VP of Sustainability.
"Ovo was set up in 2009 to help people to live greener, simple lives when it comes to energy," she said.
"So this is really in our bones, this is what we do and it's why we want to help as many people as possible.
"We also have a network of engineers out in the country already, hundreds of people, already visiting people's homes, installing smart metres and giving advice, so Energy Experts is just another service to add to that."
The scheme announced today is a trial, available immediately in the Bristol area but also in Cornwall.
However, the hope is it will eventually be expanded nationwide, and residents can express an interest in a visit online even if you don't live in those two areas.
"We've started small, but we're hoping to get hundreds of these surveys completed before the new year and I'm confident that there will be the uptake for that."
Laura Manning works with Ovo and we recently witnessed her carry out a survey at a home in Bristol.
She talked us through what actually happens.
"What we'll do is we'll have a walk around with the customer, look at what type of lighting, draft proofing, how you heat your house, what your windows are and then we'll make a report (on the issues and recommended changes) and you can save up to £260 a year by making simple changes," she said.
"We want to put it out for everyone.
"We don't want to seclude people that are just from Ovo, we want to make sure to get everyone involved in it."
You can find more about the scheme on Ovo's website here.