East Suffolk Council
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Fuel, energy and utilities
Fuel, energy and utilities
A complete list of available support is below. Please take the time to read it and use the links to the support you need.
If you, or someone you know, need help with accessing advice and support with the cost of living, please complete our online cost of living form. Please note that we aim to respond to your contact within 5 working days.
Warm Welcomes
East Suffolk Council’s Warm Welcomes (formerly Warm Rooms) scheme has now relaunched, with more than 20 village halls, churches and community hubs providing a warm space and an opportunity to connect with other members of the local community.
Keeping your home warm
Get energy-saving advice from Warm Homes Suffolk to help manage your costs and keep your home warm.
If your total household income is under £30,000 annually, you may also be eligible for a grant to help make your home more energy efficient to cut your usage and save money.
Help with water bills
Anglian Water offers tariffs for low-income households that can offer up to 50% discount on water and sewage usage.
Essex and Suffolk Water also offers ways to help, from payment breaks and low income discounts to advice on saving water which can help lower energy bills too.
Cheaper broadband and phone packages
If you are on certain benefits, you could be eligible for social tariff broadband and phone packages. Visit Ofcom to find out more.
Money and energy bills support
The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charitable trust set up to support households who are struggling to pay their bills, no matter which energy company they are with.
The trust can help with free resources to ensure you’re getting the support and benefits you’re entitled to and free 1-2-1 advice on money, benefits and energy efficiency.
It also runs an Energy Debt Programme, which awards grants to households that remove energy debt, fund emergency fuel credit and provide boiler replacements.
Help with heating costs
The Support Community Foundation Surviving Winter Scheme can help those who are in fuel poverty with a contribution towards the cost of gas/electricity or oil heating.
Interest-free loan for heating oil
Eastern Savings & Loans can provide interest-free loans up to £500 for a tank of heating oil to households in East Suffolk. Loans will need to be paid back over 12 months, with monthly repayments starting from £41.
Car sharing
Did you know that there are a staggering 38 million empty seats in the cars on UK roads every weekday?
Suffolk Car Share enables you to share with others travelling your way - an easy way to cut monthly fuel bills and help the environment.
Leave the car behind
As fuel prices continue to rise, why not consider cheaper ways of getting around where possible, such as walking, cycling or using public transport? Leaving your car at home will not only benefit your wallet, but the environment too.
Visit The Way To Go Suffolk and start planning your journey now.
Servicing or upgrading your boiler
Your boiler should be serviced at least once a year to ensure that it is running safely and efficiently. Failing to do so can lead to faults, higher energy bills and your warranty ending early.
If you are looking to upgrade to a low carbon heating system, you may be eligible to a grant of up to £5,000 through the GOV.UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
Winter Fuel Payments
Pensioners can get between £100 and £300 in the winter months to help pay their energy bills.
This winter, they will also receive an extra one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment between £150 and £300, which will be paid as an automatic top-up to the Winter Fuel Payment.
Cold weather Payment
You could be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment of £25 extra a week if you’re getting certain benefits when the temperature is zero or below for more than 7 days.
Energy advice
A number of organisations have produced a useful guide to domestic energy consumers. Although they are intended for front-line advisers to help them to answer questions, give the right advice and signpost people to where they can get help, they do include a lot of useful links and information which is regularly updated.
Visit Ofgem to read the energy domestic consumer advice for Autumn/Winter 2022.
Join a syndicate scheme
You can save money on your heating oil by joining a syndicate scheme, which aims to reduce the costs by combining orders into one purchase and negotiating directly with suppliers to get the best possible price.
AF Affinity makes purchasing as easy as possible for customers by offering monthly pre-payment plans that enable you to spread the cost ahead of the winter demand and make budgeting easier.
Reduce your energy usage
Turning your heating down by just 1°C will make a big difference to the amount of energy you use, and you may not feel any different. This is not only good for your wallet, but the environment too.
Visit Simple Energy Advice for more advice on how to reduce your energy usage.
Prepare for winter
There are many simple yet effective ways to insulate your home, which can significantly help reduce your energy bills.
Whether it is draft proofing or insulating, you can start preparing for winter now by making energy efficient improvements to help keep your home warm and energy bills low.
Visit Energy Saving Trust for more information.
Home energy check list
Useful information from National Energy Action on the financial help available and the practical steps you can take to help keep your home feeling warmer this winter.
Grants to help pay energy bills
Some energy suppliers, including EDF, E.ON Next and Ovo, are providing grants to households experiencing financial difficulties. Visit Money Saving Expert for more information.
Warm home hacks
A guide from Energy Saving Trust on staying warm and saving money on your energy bills this winter.
Save money on your fuel bills
Compare fuel prices across the UK to find your nearest and cheapest petrol stations by using the free cheap fuel finder tool at petrolprices.com
Can you save money on your water bill?
Could you cut down your water bills? Check now with Money Saving Expert.
Energy efficient recommendations to reduce bills
How much does it cost to run?
Learn how much each of your appliances cost to run with this online activity.
Join an oil-buying club
Oil buying clubs in East Suffolk could help reduce the amount you pay as group buying yields better deals. Find your nearest oil buying club with The Oil-Club.