Energy advice

Gas and electricity prices increased by 54% in April 2022 and are expected to rise by another 51% in October, causing many people to worry about where they will find the money to pay bills.

On this page:

• Support you can access yourself
• Support we offer
• Government support

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

Before contacting us we would urge you to see what help you may be able to access yourself.

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:

• reduce your energy use
• understand your energy bills
• see if you could benefit from having smart meters installed

Energy support payments

The Government has announced support for people affected by rising energy bills.

This includes £150 for most households living in properties in council tax bands A to D.

More information about this support, how it will be paid, and how you can access it as quickly as possible is available on our energy support payments page.

Help with prepayment energy costs

If your prepayment meters are about to cut off supply and you need help to top up, you should contact your energy supplier in the first instance.

They may be able to issue a credit top up voucher or extend an emergency credit facility.

If your supplier refuses support then you can get support from the Citizens Advice extra help unit by:

• calling 0808 223 1133 and asking the Citizens Advice consumer helpline to refer you
• using the extra help unit online referral form (if you need help the same day it's better to phone)

Apply for energy upgrades to your home

The council secured almost £3 million from the Government's Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (GHG LAD) scheme to help homeowners improve the energy rating of their properties.

The scheme was targeted at residents with:

• gross household incomes of £30,000 per year or less
• homes with a low energy rating (an EPC of D/E/F/G)

We were able to fund measures such as:

• wall, loft and floor insulation,
• low carbon heating
• solar panels

The GHG LAD scheme closed in June but we will be launching the Sustainable Warmth scheme in late July 2022.

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

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 on our crisis support page.

Energy advice and grants

Our energy services team provides expert advice and support for residents and businesses in Newcastle.

This includes work to:

• make homes, businesses and organisations more energy efficient
• reduce energy bills
• help households to keep warm at a reasonable cost (reduce fuel poverty)
• offer fuel debt advice

If you have been unable to find the support you need via the general advice, or would like more information about financial help to improve your energy efficiency please:

• email our energy advice team (for homes) Please do not email us about the Energy Support Payment of £150 see the FAQs on our energy support payments page
• email our utilities team (for businesses and all other non domestic advice)

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.

Government support

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced an extra £15 billion of support for people dealing with the rising cost of living.

Details of this can be found in the:

• cost of living support factsheet on Gov.uk

Other financial support

You may be eligible to receive extra help from the following

• Warm Home Discount scheme 
• Winter Fuel Payment 
• Cold Weather Payments
• Energy Company Obligation (the flexible eligibility Statement of Intent for Eco4 will be published in July 2022)