Energy advice

Energy advice

High gas and electricity prices are a causing concern for many residents and businesses.

On this page:

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.

Energy Services may also be able to help you access grants or support from a range of schemes.

Support you can access yourself

Help with prepayment energy costs

If your prepayment meters are about to run out of credit and you don't have any funds to top up, you need to contact your energy supplier.

Your supplier should be able to issue a credit voucher or extend your emergency credit.

If your supplier tells you that they won't help, then you can ask the Citizens Advice extra help unit to speak to them on your behalf:

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:

    Sustainable Warmth - apply for energy upgrades to your home

    The council has secured an additional £4.14million (HUG2) funding from the Government to build on the delivery of the £3million Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery (GHG LAD) scheme and the £1million Sustainable Warmth scheme (LAD3 and HUG1.) 

    The new funding will be delivered by Warmworks under the current Sustainable Warmth scheme arrangements and is targeted at residents who: 

    • own their homes or rent from a private landlord; AND
    • do not have mains gas central heating; AND
    • have a gross household income of £31,000 per year or less, OR live in an eligible post code; AND
    • live in homes with a low energy rating (an EPC of D/E/F/G)

    The scheme can fund measures such as wall, loft and floor insulation, low carbon heating and solar panels. Apply now

    Watch Rosemary's story 

    Apply for money off low carbon heating technologies

    Government grants of up to £7,500 towards an air source heat pump, check the Boiler Upgrade Scheme guidance and  how to apply.

    Sign up for priority services

    If you need additional support, for example in the event of a power cut, you can get extra help from your energy supplier(s) and the network operators via the Priority Services Register.

    If you sign up with your energy supplier they will, with your consent, be able to share your information with the network operator, or you can sign up directly with Northern Powergrid and Northern Gas Networks

    Advice for business

    The energy regulator Ofgem offers a general guide to business gas and electricity use.

    Support we offer

    Broken boiler replacements

    Residents can be referred to the LEAP boiler scheme if:

    • they are a home owner with a broken gas boiler; AND
    • they claim a means tested benefit OR have a gross household income under £31,000 per year; AND
    • they are aged over 65 OR aged under 5 OR suffering from cancer, terminal illness, cardiovascular or respiratory condition,  disability (affecting mobility) or a mental health condition;

     Energy advice and grants

    Our Energy Services team provides expert advice and support for residents and businesses in Newcastle.

    This includes work to:

    • improve energy efficiency
    • help households to keep warm at a reasonable cost (reduce fuel poverty)
    • offer energy saving and fuel debt advice

    If you have been unable to find the support you need please contact us:

    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, including an energy saving check up.

    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 about crisis support, benefits and other ways you can get help on our cost of living support page.

    Other financial support

    You may be eligible to receive extra help with your energy bills, these payments will be made automatically you should not need to apply, including:

    The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) can provide funding to improve your home's energy rating:

    ECO4 supports low income and vulnerable households to improve their homes with a range of energy efficiency measures, helping to meet the Government's fuel poverty and net zero commitments. Contact your energy supplier or a local insulation installer to apply for ECO4

    Check eligibility and apply for the Great British Insulation Scheme (formerly known as ECO+) GBIS supports the ECO4 scheme in the delivery of predominantly single insulation measures targeted at a wider range of households. 

    Local authorities can use flexible eligibility (LA flex) to support low income households who do not meet the benefits eligibility criteria of the schemes.

     

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