Airdrie residents turn up in force for Home Heat Helpline’s energy saving roadshow 25th March 2007 Airdrie residents turned out in force at today’s (Friday 23rd March) Home Heat Helpline energy saving roadshow, hosted by local MSP Karen Whitefield. The popular event held at the New Wellwynd Parish Church in Airdrie, which was the first event of its kind, allowed people in Airdrie to find out how they could reduce their fuel bills and save energy by speaking direct to one of the helpline’s expert advisors. Ms Whitefield hosted a briefing about energy saving and backed the Helpline, which is the only service for all Scottish customers who have difficulties with heating their homes or paying for their energy bills, no matter who their energy supplier is. Vance Duhaney from the Energy Retail Association was present, as was one of the experienced advisors from the Helpline. The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99), is run by the Energy Retail Association and funded by Britain’s energy retailers and staffed by experts based in Glasgow. It is a free phone service providing free advice on how to stay warm, reduce energy bills, and find out about cheaper payment schemes. As more than 328,000 households in Scotland spend more than 10 per cent of their income just keeping warm, it is critical that people get the advice they need. Ms Whitefield said: “This proved to be a very successful event. Those who attended Wellwynd were able to ask a range of questions about the Helpline and other issues relating to fuel poverty. I would encourage as many people as possible to call the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99 and make sure they are getting all the help they can with their fuel bills.” Vance Duhaney, Energy Retail Association said “ I’m delighted that so many people took the time to come along to this event which was so kindly hosted and supported by Karen. It’s very important to us that the message gets out to people about the kind of support that the Home Heat Helpline can provide, and that it can have a positive impact on people and this was a great opportunity to do that.” Ends Notes to Editors For further information about the Home Heat Helpline please contact Anna Gormley at The BIG Partnership on 01592 643200. Mobile: 07884 061 844 Home Heat Helpline HOME HEAT HELPLINE – 0800 33 66 99 Notes to Editors The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) operates from Monday to Friday 9am-8pm and from 10am-2pm on Saturday. There is a free minicom number for deaf users (0800 027 2122), and the Helpline also has access to interpreters for those callers whose first language is not English. www.homeheathelpline.org The Helpline is operated by The essentiagroup, based in Glasgow, and is staffed by expert advisers, including former health professionals, who are trained to give advice on how to stay warm during the cold weather. They are also trained and authorised to deal with intermediaries calling on behalf of vulnerable customers, such as friends, carers, social workers or health visitors The Home Heat Helpline was launched by the Energy Retail Association, which was established in October 2003 and is the only dedicated trade association for domestic energy suppliers in the UK. More information can be found at www.energy-retail.org.uk The Home Heat Helpline is a free service for all British citizens and is funded by Britain’s six major energy suppliers, which is the only telephone helpline service that works to help people reduce their fuel bills. The energy suppliers spent £300 million between 2002 – 2005 on tackling fuel poverty and have committed to spend a further £700 million over the next 3 years on this important issue.
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