By Lucy Ashton
Jackie Baillie is urging residents across the Dumbarton constituency to check if they are entitled to additional support with energy costs to combat increasing household bills.
The energy regulator, Ofgem, last week announced a significant increase to the energy price cap from April on the same day Jackie Baillie spoke in parliament about the cost of living crisis.
She also met with Scottish Gas, and parent-company Centrica, to discuss the help and support available to households. The supplier has launched a £2 million fund offering thousands of its customers with debt, of £250 or more, grants to help pay towards their energy bills over the coming months.
The new fund is in addition to support Scottish Gas already provides including helping around 300,000 customers each year manage debt, by giving them more time to pay bills for instance.
The Scottish Gas Energy Trust also delivers advice and support services for customers, and last year provided £1.8 million of debt relief, emergency fuel vouchers, and grants to replace boilers, with a further £3.6 million of funding provided to other organisations who support all energy customers across the country both with advice and financial support.
Jackie Baillie, pictured right, said: “With the energy price cap set to increase from April, households across Dumbarton, the Vale, Balloch, Helensburgh and Lomond are facing a torrid time ahead. It is really important that people are aware of the support that is available and which can help them manage household finances. Regardless of who your energy supplier is, I would encourage people to speak to their energy supplier if they are starting to struggle, and find out if they are able to access support from organisations like the Scottish Gas Energy Trust which helps customers of any provider, not just Scottish Gas.”
Scottish Gas engineer, Michael Fyffe, said: “As an engineer visiting customer homes, I hear every day how the rising costs of living, coupled with increasing cost of energy, are putting more households under pressure.
“People need extra support now more than ever. Help is at hand and people should contact their energy supplier to make sure they’re receiving the support that is available – to remove the debt burden some households face.”
Ros Halley, Head of Programmes at British Gas Energy Trust, which incorporates Scottish Gas Energy Trust, said: “If you’re struggling with debt it’s difficult to know where to turn. Through the Winter Fund, thousands of eligible Scottish Gas customers with fuel debt of £250 to £750 are able to apply for grants, to help pay towards their energy bills over the coming months. If you are struggling with domestic gas and electricity debts owed to Scottish Gas or other suppliers you can apply for a grant from us to clear that debt.”
Isn’t it amazing that we are having this debate about fuel poverty in a country that is more than self sufficient in oil, gas and renewable energy through hydro and wind.
Isn’t it even more amazing to realise that with soaring energy prices being predicated on increases in fossil fuel prices that Scotland with its self sufficiency in wind and hydro ( as well as the gas and oil ) is having to pay hand over fist for these alleged fossil fuel increases.
Something doesn’t gel. Or maybe to use an analogy, are we like Ireland during the potato famine where wheat and other crops were exported out of Ireland whilst the indigenous peasant starved.
Certainly seems analogous with today’s dire fuel energy poverty.
In the late 40s and 50s and like the NHS power from the glens for the glens was a great step forward for our community, our society. But not now and maybe if someone sees Sid, they might tell him!