Helpline available for residents to keep fuels bills down

Residents across the West Midlands are being encouraged to reach out for support in helping to cut their fuel bills before the colder months and weather return.

Organisers of the Warmer Homes West Midlands website offer an impartial, free to use service that aims to give personalised energy advice to households.

The programme forms part of a wider regional fuel poverty and retrofit programme being led by Energy Capital at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) which also provides jobs and support for local people as part of the region 's green recovery.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street (pictured) said: “With the rising energy bills and cost of living pressures we 're facing in our region, we need to do all we can to support local residents through the upcoming winter months and beyond.

“That 's why I 'm grateful that the Warmer Homes West Midlands programme will provide a welcome support line for those seeking to keep costs down whilst keeping warm in the coming months. ”

Residents can call a freephone number 0808 196 8298 to talk to advisors who also book in home visits for more complex cases.

The service also has outreach workers who can deliver energy training in the community for groups and work directly with other organisations supporting vulnerable households.

Outreach workers can also carry out home visits where more tailored advice and support can be offered to more vulnerable residents.

Community outreach staff can also offer help with budgeting, access grant funding and supply and install free energy saving measures such as draughtproofing, heat reflective radiator foils and energy efficient lightbulbs.

The service is also beginning to train local community volunteers as energy champions who will deliver energy advice and support for the benefit of their local communities. This empowers local networks to become more resilient and able to cope with current energy challenges.

The reminder to get in touch with the Warmer Homes West Midlands programme follows the announcement from Ofgem that in October it will be increasing the energy price cap, which will mean higher bills for many consumers.

Warmer Homes West Midlands is run by Act on Energy, a member of the WMCA fuel poverty task force.

The West Midlands has some of the highest rates of fuel poverty in England, second only to the North West region.

For more information on Warmer Homes West Midlands, please visit their dedicated website.