Hardship Advice and Support for Residents

Energy Support

If you are struggling with your energy bills the first thing to do is contact your energy company and talk to them about the situation.  They have a duty to explore options with you.  In particular, ask them about the Priority Services Register which is there to help vulnerable customers.  If you do not know who your energy supplier is you can check this out at Who’s my network operator? – Energy Networks Association (ENA) .

Energy tips from national websites

Ofgem is the government’s approved energy advice agency.  They offer advice for households on issues such as their energy bills.  You can find out more at Energy advice for households | Ofgem or by calling 0808 223 113 to speak to an adviser.  NEA offer tips on what to do if you are struggling to afford energy bills. The Energy Saving Trust explains how to make your home more energy efficient, reduce your carbon emissions and lower your energy bills. Help for Households includes information on energy saving and cost of living payments (add info re col payment

Local energy support

A number of organisations in the town have access to the Household Support Fund (a government grant) to help with energy top-ups.  Because this is a grant, once the money is spent there can be no more help.  Contact Advice @ Hart on 01429 748010, pop in to Citizens Advice on Park Road or call  West View Advice and Resource Centre on 01429 271294 and ask about Household Support Fund and help with your energy costs.  This is not an automatic entitlement, requests for help with energy will need to be checked before any decisions are made. These advice services are also available at the Big Advice Drop In to be held from 10am-3pm on 30th April at Headland Baptist Church. The event also includes a Food Network cookery demonstration (12-2pm), food sampling and 30 ingredients bags.

If you are cold at home for any reason (e.g. no heating credit/boiler breakdown), ring 01429 874063 for Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Stay Safe and Warm service. They can supply heaters, blankets, advice and other support and are available 24/7 (between Oct and Mar)

The Council provides local information about energy efficiency schemes and home improvement grants to save energy, reduce heating costs and make homes warmer (contact energy.efficiency@hartlepool.gov.uk) Homes that don’t have gas central heating installed, and are heated by other means such as electricity, oil, LPG or other fossil fuels may be eligible for FREE energy efficiency measure such as insulation, efficient or low carbon heating systems, and solar panels via HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Tees Valley). More information about HEET is available at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555332287695 The Government has also launched a Boiler Upgrade Grant Scheme.

Anglian Water may be able to provide help and advice to residents with their water bills