HELPLINE FOR FUEL POOR EXTENDS HOURS

8th January 2010

Calls soar as households seek help to beat the freeze

Scotland's national energy assistance helpline will be operating an extended hours service, as the country experiences the biggest snow fall for thirty years.

The service will now be available weekdays from 9am until 7 in the evening and at the weekends on Saturday between 9am and 1pm.

Since weather conditions deteriorated, calls to the helpline have doubled to nearly 1000 a day, with enquiries tripling to 1,500 a day over the last few days.

With predictions that temperatures will plunge as low as -20C by this weekend, calling the Energy Assistance Package on 0800 512 012 offers instant energy saving information over the phone, as well as advice about benefits and help to make a quick transition to cheaper energy tariffs.

Households who have moved to cheaper tariffs and payment methods, have saved on average nearly £300 a year.

Through the £60 million scheme, eligible young families, people on benefits and the elderly, can also get a variety of free energy saving and draft-proofing devices.

Measures include loft and cavity wall insulation and central heating systems including boilers, radiators and 'plug in' air source heat pumps which generate cheaper heating and hot water for those not on the gas grid.

More homes are now eligible than ever before due to extensions to the scheme in December to include residential mobile homes and homes that already have some insulation.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

"We know hard-pressed households will be worried about putting the heating on for fear of the cost, but no-one should feel they can't keep their home warm.

"What is important, however, is that people act now to cut winter fuel bills.

"That's why this range of help is in place and we've made the decision to open the advice line in the evenings and weekends so it's easier for more people to call after work or at a convenient time."

"We need to send out a strong message, especially when it's bitterly cold, that real help is available and urge people to get help cutting winter fuel bills now by phoning 0800 512 012."

Mike Thornton, Director, Scotland for the Energy Saving Trust said:

"In this cold weather, when heating bills are rising, we want to make it even easier for those who find it hard to heat their home to get help from the Energy Assistance Package."

For further information about help available from the Energy Assistance Package please visit www.energyassistancepackage.com or free phone 0800 512 012.

With immediate effect, the helpline is now open weekdays from 9am until 7 in the evening and at the weekends on Saturday between 9am and 1pm. This has been extended from the usual hours of 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday.