The new Energy Price Cap has been confirmed to go up by 13%, meaning an average increase on energy bills of £221 to around £1,862 per year. Charity Groundwork Five Counties supports affected households in the East Midlands through its free Green Doctor energy advice service.
This increase will come into effect from 1st July and is influenced by a range of factors, mostly notably the recent rise in cost of wholesale energy prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. This is the highest summer rise in four years.
Energy regulator Ofgem determines the maximum cost of each unit of gas and electricity, as well as a maximum daily standing charge. The Energy Price Cap changes every three months, impacting those on variable energy tariffs.
The Green Doctor is a charity service with a team of 18 energy experts, supporting thousands of households every year through funded home visits with bespoke advice.
Debbie Parry, Green Doctor Team Leader at Groundwork Five Counties, says: “The common thread is that many people can’t afford their bills or are frustrated by constantly changing costs.
“We can help by checking the tariff you’re on is right for you and explore better alternatives, such as fixed tariffs or suppliers with lower standing charges. We explain all the options in depth, so people can make an informed decision and be better off.
“We’ll also check if people are eligible for government benefits and supplier discounts they may not know about, as these are often not advertised. We can often save people hundreds of pounds a year.”
Michael Blackham, Green Doctor Team Leader, adds: “If your bills are high, it’s important to look at the energy efficiency of your home. We can install free energy-saving items like radiator foil to keep heat in, LED lights that can save £5 per bulb annually, draught excluders on letterboxes, windows and doors, and more.
“There are also lots of easy changes you can make at home. Some quick wins are keeping showers to a maximum of 4 minutes, only filling the kettle to what you need, washing at 30 degrees, reducing your boiler flow to 60 degrees, and understanding and using your heating system and controls efficiently.”
The Green Doctor service is available anywhere in the East Midlands to people of any age and background, whether they own their home, rent, or are a council or social housing tenant.
For more information and to get a free home visit, visit the website: www.groundwork.org.uk/fivecounties/green-doctor
