Staffordshire fuel poverty charity urges people to reach out ahead of price rise

Staffordshire charity Beat the Cold is urging residents concerned about rising energy bills to seek advice now to ensure they stay warm and well this winter.

Householders in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire can access expert advice from the fuel poverty charity, which also highlights the health impacts of living in a cold home.

Beat the Cold advisors provide a range of advice and support including checking tariffs, plus ensuring usage and billing is accurate.

The charity also helps householders find the most efficient and low-cost ways to heat the home for affordable warmth, alongside checking eligibility for energy efficiency retrofit schemes to improve the fabric of homes.

Beat the Cold’s Chief Executive Officer Fiona Miller said: "Ofgem’s recent announcement of the energy price cap rise from 1st October, which was published just after the reform of Winter Fuel Payments, naturally caused concern, with vulnerable groups wondering how they’ll afford to heat their homes this winter.

“We’re urging anyone with concerns to get in touch and find out how they can make their energy budget go further. We wouldn’t want people worrying in silence or switching their heating off as a solution, as this can have a negative impact on their health.”

A wide range of people are vulnerable to the cold, including those with limited mobility, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, mental health conditions, or who are pregnant, over 65 or under five years old.

Living in a cold home can exacerbate existing health conditions, or cause issues such as damp and mould, which in turn can cause poor health. This is why Beat the Cold is urging householders not to completely turn off their heating system.

Measures that the charity can offer include advice on smart meters, which can help residents understand the appliances in their home that cost the most to run, so they can use them more efficiently, as well as guidance on switching energy providers, or fixing, to get the best tariff.

The charity can also advise on maintenance steps, such as addressing issues which cause draughts in the home, as well as the introduction of appropriate insulation to prevent heat leaking from properties.

Even slightly changing the way that the heating system is set, or keeping high-use rooms warmer, can all make a difference to the overall cost of energy, providing affordable warmth. Beat the Cold can help residents to ensure they are taking all of these steps.

Fiona added: “For more than two decades our expert advisors have helped residents to understand all the different ways that they can stay warm and well over the winter.

“We’d encourage anyone with concerns about heating their home to get in touch."

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