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'Power Up' is extended
18/10/2016
A successful scheme to help customers save hundreds of pounds a year on their energy costs is to be extended, through a new partnership between Central and East Northamptonshire Citizens Advice and ourselves.
We are currently contacting our Priority Service Registered customers, those who rely on electricity the most such as the elderly or disabled, to check their details and provide the best support possible in a power cut. The scheme, called ‘Power Up’, enables us to make referrals to the Citizens Advice service for customers who indicate that they would like additional support, such as advice about energy efficiency or tariffs. Citizens Advice will also support people who are having difficulty paying their energy bills or other debts. The new partnership will significantly expand the scheme, as well as enabling its extension to customers across Northamptonshire and other parts of the East Midlands.
Alex Wilkes, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, explains:
“Helping to address fuel poverty is something that’s very new for WPD. While we don’t sell electricity and therefore don’t directly affect a customer’s expenditure or debts, we’re perhaps uniquely placed to put people in touch with agencies that can help. The point of the scheme is to team up with an expert partner that can provide assistance to customers that we can’t directly offer ourselves, such as providing advice on tariffs or available energy efficiency grants, particularly important in the lead up to winter.
“We know from our existing work with the Citizens Advice service that customers are often helped to save hundreds of pounds per year and what’s great is the Citizens Advice service can offer much broader support.”
Ian Philpott, Head of Energy Advice Services from the Central and East Northamptonshire Citizens Advice, said: “The Power Up project will enable us to work directly with people who really need our helpand offer vital support with debts and money management. Our aim is to tackle situations where people are struggling with their gas and electricity bills and either need help with debt or want to see if they can switch and get a better deal. We provide comprehensive help with a range of issues and can also provide support and secure funding for energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation and new boilers. We are delighted to be working with Western Power Distribution to extend such a successful partnership.”
For more information about the Priority Service Register, visit www.westernpower.co.uk/PSR
We are currently contacting our Priority Service Registered customers, those who rely on electricity the most such as the elderly or disabled, to check their details and provide the best support possible in a power cut. The scheme, called ‘Power Up’, enables us to make referrals to the Citizens Advice service for customers who indicate that they would like additional support, such as advice about energy efficiency or tariffs. Citizens Advice will also support people who are having difficulty paying their energy bills or other debts. The new partnership will significantly expand the scheme, as well as enabling its extension to customers across Northamptonshire and other parts of the East Midlands.
Alex Wilkes, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, explains:
“Helping to address fuel poverty is something that’s very new for WPD. While we don’t sell electricity and therefore don’t directly affect a customer’s expenditure or debts, we’re perhaps uniquely placed to put people in touch with agencies that can help. The point of the scheme is to team up with an expert partner that can provide assistance to customers that we can’t directly offer ourselves, such as providing advice on tariffs or available energy efficiency grants, particularly important in the lead up to winter.
“We know from our existing work with the Citizens Advice service that customers are often helped to save hundreds of pounds per year and what’s great is the Citizens Advice service can offer much broader support.”
Ian Philpott, Head of Energy Advice Services from the Central and East Northamptonshire Citizens Advice, said: “The Power Up project will enable us to work directly with people who really need our helpand offer vital support with debts and money management. Our aim is to tackle situations where people are struggling with their gas and electricity bills and either need help with debt or want to see if they can switch and get a better deal. We provide comprehensive help with a range of issues and can also provide support and secure funding for energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation and new boilers. We are delighted to be working with Western Power Distribution to extend such a successful partnership.”
For more information about the Priority Service Register, visit www.westernpower.co.uk/PSR
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