Home Energy Scotland

The cost of living crisis and the increase in energy prices are worrying for everyone, Home Energy Scotland can help with free impartial advice on saving energy, keeping warm at home and providing advice around accessing services that can help with financial aid.

Home Energy Scotland can also provide a home energy check to help you lower your bills and create a more comfortable home.

You can call free on 0808 808 2282

@HomeEnergyScotlandSC on Facebook.

Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm and Saturday 9am - 5pm

Ofgem

Ofgem are the energy regulator for Great Britain.

On the their website you can find information around;

Your supplier
Your rights - complaints, scams and compensation
Energy price cap
Meter readings, smart meters and connection
Energy bills
Advice and support

Ofgem Energy advice for households

Local Authority Contact Details

North/South Lanarkshire Council

If you are a resident of North or South Lanarkshire Council, please regularly check their websites for support available and contact details for services.

North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire and The Wise group are working in collaboration to deliver Energy and Advice and Assistance Servie through HEAT (Home Energy Advice Team) mentors. For further information you can phone their helpline number on: 0800 092 9002

Money Matters - South Lanarkshire

Anyone who is experiencing food and fuel emergencies can call the Community Wellbeing Helpline number on 0300 029 0041

Opening times:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am - 4pm

Wednesday 11am - 4pm

Winter Care

During the Winter it is important to think about how you can prevent any issues and save money on your energy bills

Below are some helpful things to think about:

Burst pipes

Last winter many customers experienced issues with burst pipes due to the freeze, its important to know how to turn your water off in these situations. Do you know where your stop cock is? If you had to turn your power off do you know where your isolate switch is? If your answer is no to these questions, it would be a good idea to locate these now rather than during an emergency.

Condensation

Many people struggle with a build up of condensation within their homes, left untreated this can develop into a longer term problems causing mould to grow.
Ventilation is the key factor to prevent condensation, opening windows even in the winter will help reduce the moisture build up in your home. This is particularly important if you are drying clothes within your home.
If you have extractor fans in your bathroom/kitchens, its important to use these, if you don't have one ensure you open windows where possible to let the air in.
If you are able to, buying and using a dehumidifiers or disposable dehumidifier boxes that can sit on your windows will help with the build up of moisture. Wiping down your windows of condensation using towels will also help prevent longer term issues.

Quick tips to save energy

*taken from Home Energy Scotland website

Switch off standby: Any appliances you are not using switch them off overnight, you can save around £55 a year by doing this
Draught proof your home, even if your home is new you can lose heat around your windows and doors
Turn off lights when not using them and switch bulbs to LED
Careful with your washing: Reduce the amount you are using your machine and use a 30degree cycle instead of higher temperatures
Avoid using the tumble dryer when you can
Spending less time in the shower can help save up to £65 a year
Swap baths for showers if this is an option
Be savvy in the Kitchen: Avoid overfilling kettle, turn off appliances when you are not using them
If you have a dishwasher, only use it once its full
Heat the person and not the home. Think about saving on heating bills by buying an electric throw and layering up

These are not full proof solutions but any little steps we can all take will help keep our homes in good condition and keep our bills low.