Ulster Unionist Party Assemblyman for East Antrim, Roy Beggs MLA has welcomed the Big Energy Saving Week initiative which runs from 26-30th October and added his support to this scheme which aims to reduce energy bills for householders.
Mr Beggs, who a member of the Social Development Committee at Stormont said “The energy saving week will hopefully get households thinking about their energy use and provide impetus towards action that will reduce their energy bills. With temperatures dropping as we move into winter, the cost of heating our homes becomes even more important. There are a number of ways to save energy, such as improving insulation and by taking control of our heating and electricity costs. It is important to check that you are on the best deal and where it is of benefit, switch tariff or in some cases supplier or fuel type.”
Some home owners and private tenants will be eligible for the affordable warmth scheme which can subsidise insulation and heating improvements. The scheme provides a package of energy-efficiency and heating measures, tailored to each household. http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/affordable-warmth-grant-scheme
In addition the the Utility Regulator’s “Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme” which helps household with a gross annual household is less than £20,000. It provides over £7million of funding for energy efficiency work in NI each year. http://www.uregni.gov.uk/uploads/publications/NISEP_List_of_Schemes_2015-16.pdf
A spokesperson for the scheme added “The campaign is being delivered through the media and should be an excellent opportunity for you to communicate with your constituents to help them save energy and money through better understanding of their energy use and to encourage supplier switching at a time when around only 2% of households here have switched in the past 12 months and when there is increasing competition in the utility market.”
For further free and impartial advice and information, check out the website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/northern-ireland or call the Bryson Energy Advice Line on 0800 1422 865.
