Keep Shropshire Warm combats record energy price rises

This week has seen a record rise in energy prices by the UK’s largest utility company British Gas.

This unprecedented rise follows hot on the heels of EDF’s large 17% increase last week. The increase in prices is set to send more households into fuel poverty by increasing the average energy bill from £600 a year to over £1000, prompting Energywatch to claim that over six million households nation-wide will be unable to heat their homes adequately this winter.

The county’s affordable warmth initiative “Keep Shropshire Warm”, which has assisted over 3000 households since January, offers free insulation to all vulnerable households and large discounts to all other households. The campaign also offers further advice on affordable warmth including the best tariffs available in the county, updated on a monthly basis.

Jo Meakin, Keep Shropshire Warm project manager, said: “There is nothing we can do about the price rises in energy, but we can help people to create an energy efficient house, which will significantly reduce their annual energy bills. We offer free and discounted insulation which can potentially reduce energy bills by as much as £300 a year. It certainly pays to contact us as we’ve proved that we can help people to create an affordable warmth environment in their homes.”

Keep Shropshire Warm still offers free insulation to home owners and private tenants over the age of 70 or in receipt of benefits. The campaign also offers large discounts for anyone that does not fall into the Government’s “vulnerable” criteria.

31 July 2008