Grants and Services that are available to improve the energy efficiency of your home and save you money.

Warm Front Scheme:
The Warm Front Scheme has now ceased. 

Help from your energy supplier: the Energy Company Obligation:

You might be able to get help for energy-saving improvements to your home if you are on certain benefits and own or privately rent your home. 

You may get all or part of the cost of:

• loft or cavity wall insulation
• boiler repairs or replacements 

Eligibility

You must own your property or rent it privately and have the owner's permission to do the work. You must also get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (and your income is £15,860 or less)
• Working Tax Credit (and your income is £15,860 or less) - plus one of the extra conditions below
• Income Support - plus one of the extra conditions below
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance - plus one of the extra conditions below
• the support or work related element of income-related Employment and Support Allowance - plus one of the extra conditions below 

Extra conditions

For certain benefits, one of the following must also apply:

• you're responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they're in education or training)
• you get Disabled Child Premium
• you get Disability Premium
• you get Pensioner Premium
• you're 60 or over (only if you get Working Tax Credit) 

How to apply

Contact the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234  

The Green Deal:

You can make energy-saving improvements to your home or business and pay off the cost in instalments through your electricity bill.

Energy-saving improvements include:

• insulation - e.g. loft or cavity wall insulation
• heating
• draught-proofing
• double glazing
• renewable energy technologies - e.g. solar panels or wind turbines 

Contact the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 to get more information about an assessment of you property to see what improvements you can make and how much you could save on your energy bills. 

If you go ahead with the improvements you will have to sign you Green Deal Plan. This is a contract between you and the  provider stating what work will be carried out and the cost. The provider will then arrange for a Green Deal installer to do the work. 

Energy Action for Health:
Energy Action for Health is administered by Doncaster Council's Energy Team. It is an Affordable Warmth initiative. This nationally recognised scheme aims to improve health and tackle the causes of ill health by providing home advice visits to vulnerable residents to ensure that any help available is provided for them. The scheme is a partnership between Doncaster Council and NHS Doncaster who work together to help local residents keep warm and healthy in their homes.

During the one-to-one advice visits to a household, energy advice specific to the person's circumstances will be given, including the exploration of any energy related grants for which the householder might be eligible. Where possible, assistance in applying for grants will be provided as well as information regarding the no cost and low cost ways to save money on fuel bills.

Contact the Energy Team at DMBC on 01302 737 053,
or via e-mail: dmbcenergy@doncaster.gov.uk

Staywarm:
Staywarm is an energy service that will provide a household with all its electricity and gas needs at one low fixed price. You can join Staywarm if you or someone in your home is over 60 years of age provided that your home has no more than three bedrooms and that there are not more than four people living there.

The amount you will pay is based on the number of bedrooms and the number of people living in your home.

You can use as much electricity and gas as you need - it won't affect the amount you pay. The price is guaranteed to remain fixed for a year from when you sign up. Customers must be able to make their payments by monthly direct debit.

Further information can be obtained from DIAL Doncaster (01302 327 800), or call Staywarm free on 0345 303 3060, with a copy of your latest electricity and gas bills to hand.

Priority Services Register
Every gas and electricity supplier provides a scheme known as the Priority Services Register (some suppliers may use a different name for the priority services register). If you are a domestic consumer, and meet one or more of the following criteria, you mat register for a range of free or optional services designed to make your life easier.

Eligibility:

• Are of pensionable age.
• Have a disability.
• Have a long term ill health condition.
• Are blind or visually impaired.
• Have a hearing impairment.

The services are as follows:

• Password Protection Scheme - A unique password is agreed between yourselves and your gas/electric supplier to be used if their staff need to visit your home.
• Moving Meters - If your meter is difficult to reach or read your supplier may consider moving the meter to a more convenient place, free of charge.
• Free Gas Safety Check - You are entitled to an annual safety check of gas appliances if ALL of the adults in your home are eligible for the priority register.
• Special Controls and Adapters - Your supplier can provide and fit, free of charge, special controls and adapters to help make gas and electricity appliances and meters easier for you to use.
• Bill Nominee Scheme - If you would like your bills, or a copy of your bills, to be sent to a relative or carer's address so they can help you to read or check your bill, your supplier will arrange this on request.
• Accessing Prepayment Meters - If you are unable to access your gas and/or electricity prepayment meter then providing it is safe and practical your supplier can move this to a more accessible location free of charge.
• Services for Visually Impaired or Hearing Impaired Customers- Your supplier can provide consumer information, including meter reading and and bills, in a suitable format for you. This may be Braille, Large Print, on Audio Tape, via textphone or TextRelay.

You may be entitled to special help if your gas supply is disrupted e.g. provision of alternative cooking or heating facilities if ALL of the adults in your home meet the criteria for the priority register. If you rely on the supply of electricity to power vital medical equipment in your home, you can get advance notice if your supply has to be interrupted for planned work.

How to Register
Contact your supplier directly to obtain an application form for their scheme.

Home Heat Helpline
The Home Heat Helpline is a free service that offers practical advice for people concerned about paying their energy bills. It is open from 9:00am till 6:00pm Monday to Friday.
Tel: 0800 336 699
Minicom: 0800 027 2122

DIAL Disclaimer
Whilst all the information given in this fact sheet was correct at the time of going to press, DIAL Doncaster cannot be held responsible for any subsequent changes.

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