Saving energy, saving money

North Warwickshire Citizens Advice Bureau joined forces with local MP Dan Byles and the Mayor of North Warwickshire, Councillor Dave Butcher to raise awareness of money saving ideas of ways to save money on soaring fuel bills. Other colleagues from the Council’s Financial Inclusion Team and Energy Action Trust joined in a week of events, ending with a day at Atherstone Co-operative in Station Street. Bureau Manager Carol Musgrave said ‘the events were really successful – we talked to over 100 people at the Co-operative and many of them had never considered switching suppliers to save around £400 a year. There has never been a better time to look into easy ways of saving money on your energy bills and we can help people with this.’

MP for North Warwickshire Dan Byles added his support to the campaign, saying "With energy bills rising, it is really important that people have access to fair and impartial advice about how they can save money. Switching energy suppliers and taking some simple steps to reduce energy use can make a real difference to a household's bills, and I was delighted to see the success of Big Energy Day here in Atherstone. I was pleased to offer my support."

Top tips for saving money include

- Contact your supplier to check you are you are on the best tariff and payment method for you.  Monthly direct debit is on average £100 cheaper per year than paying by cash or cheque.

- Visit an accredited switching website to see if you could get your energy cheaper elsewhere. You may be able to save up to £200 off your annual bill by shopping around for a different supplier, particularly if you have never changed energy firm.

- Insulate the walls and the loft of your home and you could save on average around £120 per year.  All suppliers are giving away free or discounted insulation - ask if you’re eligible so you don’t miss out.

- Check you are not missing out on any benefits or tax credits that could up your income; your local Citizens Advice Bureaux can help you with this.

- Using less energy could save you money, just by doing simple things like switching off lights and switching off appliances at the wall. Turning your thermostat down 1°C alone could cut your heating bill by £60 on average.

If you are unable to pay your bills you should contact your energy supplier immediately as they have to help you manage your bills in a way that you can afford. 

If you use heating oil or liquid petroleum gas to heat your home, you could save money by:
- Buying in bulk with your neighbours; check if there is an oil club you can join or start one up.
- Shop around and compare prices from different oil suppliers.

L to R: Financial Capability Assistant Neale Williams, Dan Byles MP, Councillor Dave Butcher Mayor of North Warwickshire, Saleem Sheikh of National Energy Action and Lorraine Verrall, Bureau Deputy Manager.

Mayor Dave Butcher and Dan Byles, MP.