Help with energy bills
We’re here to help you manage and reduce your energy bills. Our team of energy advisers help people across Hampshire to claim the financial support they’re entitled to, apply for priority services and reduce the risk of energy debt.
If you live in Hampshire and are worried about paying bills or staying warm, please contact us for personalised support. In the meantime, our top tips to get you started are listed in the tabs below.
The simplest way to keep your bills as low as possible is to reduce the amount of gas and electricity you use. Whilst it’s important to be comfortable, there are plenty of quick and easy habits you can start that will minimise the amount of energy you use overall.
- Control your heating and hot water to suit your lifestyle. If you’ve got a thermostat, set it to between 18 and 21°C, which is a comfortable temperature for most people. Consider closing off rooms you don’t use very often, and use the timers to make sure your heating and hot water aren’t running all the time.
- Take shorter showers to reduce the amount of water you need to heat.
- Switch appliances off at the socket to help keep your electricity use down.
- Replace old light bulbs with LED ones.
- Consider installing low-flow shower heads (if your shower is not electric).
New appliances such as fridges, freezers and washing machines are often a lot more efficient than older models. If you’re planning on changing your appliances anyway, check out the energy efficiency rating to see how it might impact your energy bills.
Heat can escape from your home in all kinds of ways, so it’s a good idea to check for any cracks around your window frames and letter boxes when you’re preparing for winter. Even if you can’t see them, you might be able to feel if there’s air coming through. You might be able to fill the gaps with an appopriate sealant.
If you’ve got a hot water tank without much foam around it, consider buying a hot water tank jacket to reduce heat loss.
If you’re living in a particularly cold or damp home, you could be eligible for a grant to cover the cost of making your home more energy efficient.
When your home is energy efficient, you’ll use less energy when keeping it warm in the winter, and your home will be more comfortable in summer. Using less energy will naturally reduce your energy bills over the long term.
Your Hitting the Cold Spots energy adviser will help you explore funding opportunities. Simply give us a call on 0800 804 8601 to find out more.
