nea cymru fuel debt bulletin april2012

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Welcome to the Fuel Debt Advice Bulletin

Welcome to the first edition of the quarterly NEA Cymru Fuel Debt Bulletin, which is

part of a project Assisting Fuel Poor Communities in Wales (see below for further

detail).

As more and more households (it is estimated that 400,000 households in Wales are in

fuel poverty) feel the impact of increasing fuel prices over the last few years and

experiencing the effects of the austerity measures, public spending cuts and welfare

reform, the provision of good quality in-depth fuel debt advice is more in need than

ever.

From NEAs previous work into fuel debt advice, it has been identified that there is

often no support network available for frontline advisors dealing specifically with fuel

debt. This can leave advisors, who are dealing with very complex, emotive issues,

feeling isolated and uninformed.

NEAs quarterly bulletin will cover the latest news, information and issues that affectthe provision of fuel debt advice nationally and Wales.

Assisting Fuel Poor

Communities Energy Bill Revolution

The Big Switch

Welfare Reform Act 2012

A word from our Sponsor

NEA Update

Assisting Fuel Poor Communities in Wales

NEA Cymru has received

sponsorship from Scottish and

Southern Energy plc to roll out a

project in Wales to assist fuel

poor communities in Wales.

From NEAs previous work into

fuel debt advice, it has been

identified that there is often no

support network available for

frontline advisors dealing

specifically with fuel debt. This

can leave advisors, who are

often dealing with very complex,

emotive issues, feeling isolated

and uninformed.

The aim of the project is for NEA

to establish an Advice Agency

Network in Wales to provide

support, guidance and mentoringto agency staff that regularly

NEA CYMRU

FUEL DEBT
http://www.swalec.co.uk/


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provide fuel debt / energy bill

advice.

The project will include:

Delivery of a tailored Fuel

Debt Advice Training

course for Wales to

incorporate the differences

in policy and the different

schemes available through

the devolved

administration

An Advice Agency

Network, which will

consist of meetings,

newsletter updates andmentoring advice and

support for participating

agencies. NEA is hoping to

work / link in with the

established Financial

Capability network in

Wales.

For further information about the project, please contact Jimmy Pugh at

[email protected]

NEAs one day Fuel Debt Advice Training Course is an idealintroduction for advice workers involved with clients who are in fuel debtor for the more experienced advisor as a structured update. The trainingcourse raises awareness and aims to give participants a clearerunderstanding of the pathways involved in resolving fuel debt.

NEA is currently identifying venues and dates for the Fuel Debt TrainingCourses which will be released in the near future.

To register initial interest please contact: [email protected]

Energy Bill Revolution

Around 7 million UK householdsare currently estimated to beliving in fuel poverty,that is theyare unable to afford to heat theirhomes to a level adequate forgood health and well-being.g

The Energy Bill Revolution is apublic campaign, supported byan alliance of organisations,calling for warm homes and

lower energy bills. They areasking the Government to use

the money it gets from carbontaxes to make the UKs homessuper-energy efficient. The aimof the campaign is to drive downenergy bills, help end fuelpoverty, help tackle childpoverty, create jobs, improvehealth and reduce carbonemissions.

The campaign believes if the

Government recycled its carbonrevenue (European Emissions
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Trading Scheme & Carbon FloorPrice) back to households, itcould provide billions of poundsto help insulate the UKs homes.The benefits could be immense it

could bring 9 out of 10 homes

out of fuel poverty, lowerpeoples bills, cut carbonemissions AND create jobs.

For more information on theEnergy Bill Revolution go to

www.energybillrevolution.org

The Big Switch

Which? and onlinecampaigning community

38 Degrees are workingtogether on The Big Switchto get a better deal forconsumers on energy bills.

The Big Switch aims to

make it easy for

consumers to switch to a

better energy deal - and

save money on gas and

electricity bills.

Once it is known howmany people areinterested in switching,they are likely to hold a

reverse auction whereenergy companies areinvited to put forward theirlowest price per kilowatt ofelectricity and cubic meter

of gas.

They cannot guarantee tosecure a deal, but themore people who sign up,

the better their bargainingpower.

If a good deal is securedthey will offer it toeveryone signed up. Helpswitching to the new dealwill be provided

So, using the power ofthousands of consumers,they will negotiate withenergy suppliers and seek

to secure a market-leadingenergy deal and helppeople make the switch.There were more than50,000 people signed up toThe Big Switch within thefirst 48 hours, and you cansign up until 31 March.

For more information on

The Big Switch go to:

http://www.which.co.uken

ergy/saving-

money/guides/the-big-

switch-explained

Welfare Reform Act 2012

It is well known that three majorfactors causing fuel poverty /fuel debt is low household

income, high energy prices andpoor energy efficiency of homes.

One of the main things that helpin reducing fuel debt is themaximising of incomes. However

with measures introduced during2011 and further measures to be
http://www.energybillrevolution.org/http://www.which.co.ukenergy/saving-money/guides/the-big-switch-explainedhttp://www.which.co.ukenergy/saving-money/guides/the-big-switch-explainedhttp://www.which.co.ukenergy/saving-money/guides/the-big-switch-explainedhttp://www.which.co.ukenergy/saving-money/guides/the-big-switch-explainedhttp://www.which.co.uk/http://www.energybillrevolution.org/http://www.which.co.ukenergy/saving-money/guides/the-big-switch-explainedhttp://www.which.co.ukenergy/saving-money/guides/the-big-switch-explainedhttp://www.which.co.ukenergy/saving-money/guides/the-big-switch-explained


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introduced in 2012 under theWelfare Reform Act 2012 whichreceived Royal Assent on the 8th

March 2012 maximising incomemay become more difficult in the

future. In this article anoverview of changes to thebenefit system in 2011 / 2012will be provided and identifyparticular areas of concern.

The Bill makes significantchanges to the benefits systemwhich includes:

Restricting HousingBenefit (HB) entitlementfor social housing tenantswhose accommodation islarger than they need.

Caps the amount ofbenefit income that can beclaimed by households.

Abolishes Disability LivingAllowance (DLA) and

introduces the PersonalIndependence Payment

Limits the payment ofcontributory EmploymentSupport Allowance (ESA)

to 12 months.

Increasing the WorkingTax Credit (WTC) workinghours requirement forworking couples from 16hours to 24 hours.

WTC and CTC backdatingreduced to one month.

Local Housing Allowance(LHA) rates will beincreased in line with theConsumer Price Indexinstead of the marketrents thereby losing theconnection with actualrents.

Energy market major switch off - WelshConsumers

In a recent research reportpublished by ConsumerFocus Wales (18th January

2012) showed a majorityof consumers in Wales arecompletely switched offfrom the energy marketand missing out onsavings.

It has been shown thatWales has some of thelowest levels of switchingenergy supplier in Great

Britain.

Lindsey Kearton, energyexpert at Consumer FocusWales, said: As energy

bills have escalated overthe last year, with theaverage annual fuel billnow over 1,200, it hasbecome more importantthan ever that consumerslook for the best possibledeal for theircircumstances. Yet despitethe rising cost of energy,most consumers in Wales

are missing out on savingswhich could amount to
http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales


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hundreds of pounds ayear.

More than two in everyfive Welsh consumers have

never switched theirenergy supplier.

Many of those who haveswitched have done so justonce, switching fromseparate gas andelectricity suppliers to adual fuel deal. That meansas many as eight out often households in Wales

could be paying more thanthey need to heat theirhomes.

All the messages from theregulator suggest thatconsumers get the best

deal by switching supplierregularly. This keeps themarket active andencourages suppliers tocompete. Yet a clear

majority of consumers inWales are completelyswitched off by theprospect of switching. Justone in eight householdsare regular switchers,changing every year or twoin order to keep their costsdown.

To read the full findings of

the report go to:http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdf

A Word from our Sponsor.

Vulnerable customersWe can offer free extra

help and advice for you if

you're elderly, disabled

or have special medical

needs.

Careline is a free priority

service (telephone

number 0800 300 111)

that includes a team of

specially trained advisers

and specialist services

for registered customers.

We've got lots of helpful

advice to keep you and

your home warm and

safe. There's also

information on grants to

help insulate your home.

You can find out more

about the Warm Home

Discount scheme, aimed

at helping low income,

vulnerable customers

with fuel costs
http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdfhttp://www.swalec.co.uk/http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/wales/files/2012/01/Switched-off-English-WEB.pdf


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And we have advice for

you if you would find it

helpful to use appliances

which are designed to

help make everyday

tasks easier for those

less mobile

NEA Update

Reports

NEA monitors relevant research reports and below is a list of publishedreports you may find of interest;

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/pricedoutreport.pdf - a report on theimpact of fuel poverty on families living on low incomes

NEA's Green Deal and ECO Consultation Response to DECC. January

2012.

http://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/files/2012/03/Off-grid-fuels.pdf -Off-grid fuels An investigation of the off-grid energy market.

If you do not wish to receive future editions of the Fuel Debt AdviceBulletin, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]

NEA is an independent charity reg. no. 290511.Company limited by guarantee.Registered in England no. 1853927.Registered office: 6th Floor (Elswick), West One, Forth Banks, Newcastleupon Tyne, NE1 3PA

Tel: 0191 261 5677Fax: 0191 261 6496Email: [email protected]: http://www.nea.org.uk
http://www.barnardos.org.uk/pricedoutreport.pdfhttp://www.nea.org.uk/assets/PDF-documents/NEA-response-Green-Deal-ECO-WEB.pdfhttp://www.nea.org.uk/assets/PDF-documents/NEA-response-Green-Deal-ECO-WEB.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/files/2012/03/Off-grid-fuels.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/publications/off-grid-fuels-an-investigation-of-the-off-grid-energy-marketmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nea.org.uk/http://www.barnardos.org.uk/pricedoutreport.pdfhttp://www.nea.org.uk/assets/PDF-documents/NEA-response-Green-Deal-ECO-WEB.pdfhttp://www.nea.org.uk/assets/PDF-documents/NEA-response-Green-Deal-ECO-WEB.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/files/2012/03/Off-grid-fuels.pdfhttp://www.consumerfocus.org.uk/publications/off-grid-fuels-an-investigation-of-the-off-grid-energy-marketmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.nea.org.uk/

nea cymru fuel debt bulletin april2012

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