Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service is joining other bureaux across Scotland to help people with soaring energy bills this winter.
Launched this week, The Big Energy Saving Winter campaign will run for the next two months with the aim of helping people save money by using less energy and also providing information on grants available to help those in crisis.
The campaign comes during a difficult time for consumers this winter with increasing energy bills following the price cap increase in October, rising inflation meaning higher prices in the shops as well as reductions to Universal
Credit.
Phil Stewart, who heads Dumfries and Galloway Citizens Advice Service, said: “The sharp rise in energy bills this year is really going to hit a lot of people in our community, particularly those who were already struggling with their bills.
“Around one in four households in Scotland were already in fuel poverty before this rise.
“We know that people can feel helpless and isolated when they can’t pay their fuel bills, especially at this time of year.
“So our message in this campaign is, you don’t need to feel powerless about rising energy costs, your D&G CAS is here to help
you.
“Contact us on 0300 303 4321, or by email info@dagcas.org or through our website at www.dagcas.org. If you prefer to get our information online, try our moneymap.scot tool to check those ways to increase your income. Or visit our general advice website at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland.”
He added: “The main thing to remember is that you’re not alone. We’re here to help you, and our advice is free, confidential and impartial.
“I don’t want to see anyone in Dumfries and Galloway in fuel poverty this winter if we can possibly help avoid it.”
Support includes:
• Helping identify grants or benefits people may be entitled to but don’t know about;
• Talking to energy suppliers on behalf of residents to re-structure any debts and see if there’s any way they can help;
• Advising on ways to cut home energy use which could help with bills; and
• Advice on using prepayment meters or what to do if an energy supplier has gone out of business.
