Comments on: Fuel price increases have outstripped resources for tackling fuel poverty http://waleshome.org/2010/01/fuel-price-increases-have-outstripped-resources-for-tackling-fuel-poverty/ Independent analysis from and about Wales Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Bethan Jenkins AM http://waleshome.org/2010/01/fuel-price-increases-have-outstripped-resources-for-tackling-fuel-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-4696 Bethan Jenkins AM Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:20:48 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=6720#comment-4696 The importance of this subject has been underlined emphatically by the recent bad weather. I gave Plaid Cymru's response to this debate. You can see what I said here: http://www.bethanjenkins.org/bethans-speech-on-fuel-poverty We can't leave it here. We have to look for Welsh-specific solutions to these issues. Sadly, I don't see them coming from the Tories. The importance of this subject has been underlined emphatically by the recent bad weather. I gave Plaid Cymru’s response to this debate. You can see what I said here:

http://www.bethanjenkins.org/bethans-speech-on-fuel-poverty

We can’t leave it here. We have to look for Welsh-specific solutions to these issues. Sadly, I don’t see them coming from the Tories.

]]> By: Jules Oldham http://waleshome.org/2010/01/fuel-price-increases-have-outstripped-resources-for-tackling-fuel-poverty/comment-page-1/#comment-4686 Jules Oldham Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:15:14 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=6720#comment-4686 I am the Development Officer with the Scottish Council for Single Homeless. I am currently working on a project, High Voltage. This has included asking homeless young people, as well as Project Workers, Outreach Workers and similar about what their knowledge is with electricity bills, tariffs, setting up electricty for a new tenancy, understanding what they are paying for with regards to electricity, etc. The result of this has shown that the majority of people had no idea waht they were paying for, or realise that they could be saving money by just getting on the right tariff with the right company for them. To attempt to improve this situation I am: * midst putting a paper together with the research findings, that will go to the 6 big companies, Ofgem and the Scottish Government, with recommendations. * about to give 20 training session all over Scotland to workers working with homeless people, or people who have been homeless and are in their tenancies. The training will give knowledge to the workers on tariffs available, reading meters, electricity jargon, and generally giving the tools to help them help others to not be paying over the odds for their electricity. * putting some leaflets that will be downloadable from our webiste to help people sort out their electricity, and get themsleves the best deals. I feel that if people knew more about what is available and how to save money, then they would. But there is a lack of knowledge. In particular with areas like the Social tariff. I also think that when moving, getting it right to start with can make a real difference. Hope my thoughts are of some help. I am the Development Officer with the Scottish Council for Single Homeless. I am currently working on a project, High Voltage. This has included asking homeless young people, as well as Project Workers, Outreach Workers and similar about what their knowledge is with electricity bills, tariffs, setting up electricty for a new tenancy, understanding what they are paying for with regards to electricity, etc.

The result of this has shown that the majority of people had no idea waht they were paying for, or realise that they could be saving money by just getting on the right tariff with the right company for them.

To attempt to improve this situation I am:
* midst putting a paper together with the research findings, that will go to the 6 big companies, Ofgem and the Scottish Government, with recommendations.
* about to give 20 training session all over Scotland to workers working with homeless people, or people who have been homeless and are in their tenancies. The training will give knowledge to the workers on tariffs available, reading meters, electricity jargon, and generally giving the tools to help them help others to not be paying over the odds for their electricity.
* putting some leaflets that will be downloadable from our webiste to help people sort out their electricity, and get themsleves the best deals.

I feel that if people knew more about what is available and how to save money, then they would. But there is a lack of knowledge. In particular with areas like the Social tariff. I also think that when moving, getting it right to start with can make a real difference.

Hope my thoughts are of some help.

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