Warmer Derby and Derbyshire

Energy bills are set to rise as gadgets become essential for staying in touch and the heating needs to be on during the day.  Keep ahead of the game by calling an Energy Advisor at Warmer Derby & Derbyshire on 0800 677 1332.

You can call for advice about:

• energy bills
• switching tariff
• how to make your home more energy efficient
• how to apply for grants for heating systems and insulation

Freephone: 0800 677 1332 or email wdd@mea.org.uk

Warmer Homes Derbyshire are cautiously offering essential Home Visits where there is no specific cause for concern. They will discuss the necessary precautions with each householder. Home visits may enable us to fit energy efficiency measures, look at bills, or read meters, for instance, where these tasks can't be done by another means (telephone, video-call, post etc).

Warmer Derby & Derbyshire's energy top tips:

• If you're at home more than usual; expect your bills to rise - if you don't have a smart meter, submit a meter reading at least once a month so you don't get behind
• If you can't afford your bill talk to your energy provider or Warmer Derby & Derbyshire.  Many suppliers have put in place help for customers who are struggling.
• Get the washing out - if you've got outdoor space, washing should dry over a day in summer.
• Cut the waste - make sure gadgets aren't on, or on standby, overnight.  Keep an eye on the weather, and your heating controls.  As we get into warmer weather, you might be able to turn the heating down during the day and put a jumper on, and then boost temperatures in the evening.
• Keep active - ditch kitchen and cleaning gadgets and get an upper body workout with a wooden spoon or brush!  An online workout first thing will help get your own central heating pumping and will mean you are less likely to touch the thermostat during the day.
• Get the family involved - if you've got a smart meter, it's easier to see what (and who) is using the most energy.  Non-essentials like hair straighteners might have to go!

The Warmer Derby & Derbyshire service is a partnership between the Marches Energy Agency charity and the Local Authority Energy Partnership (LAEP) - which includes both ourselves and all other Derbyshire councils.

The advice line is being funded using a grant of around £70,000 from the Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme. It's managed by The Energy Saving Trust on behalf of the Government's gas and electricity regulator, Ofgem, to distribute payments from energy companies who may have breached rules.