THOUSANDS BENEFIT FROM FUEL POVERTY HELPLINE
25th May 2006

Today we can announce 25,000 people have so far benefited from a new energy industry initiative in the 6 months since it launched. The Home Heat Helpline is a not-for-profit telephone advice line offering free advice and help to people worried about their gas and electricity bills.

Research has found that people could be missing out on £1,500 worth of benefits*, because they are not aware of what they are entitled to, something the service is helping to combat.

The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) was set up in November 2005, and through specially trained advisors, provides callers with information and advice on; cheaper payment schemes, grants available for insulating their homes, providing information on how people can register for extra services and to find out if they are entitled to additional government benefits.

Duncan Sedgwick, Chief Executive of the Home Heat Helpline said, “It’s great news that 25,000 people have called the helpline and been able to benefit from the advice of our specially trained advisors. However, with over two million people in the UK spending more that 10% of their income on heating bills, there are many more people out there who could benefit from calling the helpline.

So, I would urge anyone who concerned about their heating bills to call the Helpline on 0800 33 66 99. Not only will they get lots of free advice and information - they could be eligible for financial assistance from their supplier or from the Government to help insulate their home and make their bills more manageable.”

For further information, please contact Suzi Darsa, Campaign Manager, Home Heat Helpline 0207 930 9175 or email suzi.darsa@energy-retail.org.uk

Notes to Editors
Interviews via ISDN and photos are available on request
*Research conducted by British Gas in 2006.
Total number of callers to the Home Heat Helpline since November 2005 is 25,000
Regional Breakdown of number of callers. (Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 callers)
West Midlands 2300, Scotland 2400, Wales 1400, North West 3500, South East 3100, South West 2500, London 4000, North East 1400, Yorkshire and Humberside 1500, East Midlands 1500, East England 1400

The Home Heat Helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am – 8 pm and from 10am-3pm on Saturday. There is a free minicom number 0800 027 2122. The Home Heat Helpline also has access to interpreters for those callers whose first language is not English.

The Home Heat Helpline was set up by the Energy Retail Association. The Energy Retail Association was established in October 2003 and is the only dedicated trade association for domestic energy suppliers in the UK. The Energy Retail Association’s mission is to identify areas where its members can work for the common good without competitive advantage.