Tackling Fuel Poverty The Neath Port Talbot Experience

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’ • Phase 1 – 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 • Nearly 50, 000 homes assessed and over 28, 000 insulation measures installed • Over £ 2 million claimed in new or extra benefits • Every Home has received Energy Efficiency packs • Over 50 local community groups have had energy efficiency talks and over 360 householders have had energy efficiency home visits • Installed 243 new gas supplies • Installed 575 new gas central heating systems • Gas supply mains extension project in Seven Sisters is complete

National Energy Action (NEA) • • 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 • • • 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 – admin@charisgrants. com • Web Site – www. charisgrants. com • Write to – PO Box 42, Peterborough, PE 3 8 XH

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 1 st 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