HOME HEAT HELPLINE HELPS SCOTS REDUCE FUEL COSTS

7.41.48am GMT Thu 26th Feb 2009

Helpline helps 100,000 people with cost-cutting advice

The Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) is calling on Scots who are struggling with fuel costs to get in touch to get free assistance in reducing their bills. The Helpline reached an important milestone, with the 100,000th* person contacting the service to access free advice in helping manage their energy bills.

­­

Set up in 2005, the Home Heat Helpline continues to help low-income and single-parent families, people living with disabilities and pensioners over 70 to reduce their energy bills. The help available includes access to reduced tariffs, grants for free home insulation and flexible payment options, as well as a disconnection safety net to ensure that vulnerable customers will not be cut off even if they are unable to pay their bill.

As part of the Helpline's 2009 winter campaign, the service is calling on charities and other advice agencies as well as friends, relatives and carers to access the service online (at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk) and help a client, friend or relative to benefit from the free help available.

Oliver Wright, Campaign Manager for the Energy Retail Association, which manages the helpline, said:

"This winter has been one of the coldest for many years, and it's more important than ever that people struggling to pay their bills know where to turn to for free and independent advice. Although we've been able to help 100,000 people over the past three years, we know that thousands more are still struggling with their bills and have not had their fair share of the free help available.

"If you know someone in need, please call 0800 33 66 99 on their behalf or use our new online enquiry form at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk."

The Home Heat Helpline has received support from Help the Aged, Age Concern, Citizen's Advice, National Energy Action and Gingerbread alongside celebrities such as One Foot in the Grave actor Richard Wilson, former Paralympian Dame Tanni Gray-Thompson and weather presenter Sian Lloyd.

For more information on the Home Heat Helpline, visit the website at www.homeheathelpline.org.uk or call 0800 33 66 99.