Home energy and fuel

Energy Cost Advisory Service

If you are struggling with your gas and electricity bills or are looking to make your home more energy efficient, our Energy Cost Advisory Service can help.

As the cost of fuel continues to rise, lots of people are left worrying about their bills - but support and advice is available. Our new service offers free impartial help and information on anything energy related, including:

• Help managing yours bills
• Assistance with energy debt
• Advice on grants you may be entitled to,
• How to make your home more energy efficient
• Help if you are in Fuel Poverty, struggling to pay for your bills or top up your meter or off supply.

To find out more or arrange an appointment with our Energy Cost Advisor, please call 0141 577 8420 or email mart@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk

Current assistance

It's estimated that around 25.6% of households in Scotland are in fuel poverty. If you think or want to know if you're in fuel poverty you can find information the Energy Action Scotland website 

Warm Home Discount:

You could get £140 off your electricity bill under the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

 Check to see if you're eligible

Priority Service Register (PSR)

The Priority Services Register (PSR) is a free service provided by suppliers and network operators to customers in need.

• Registering to the PSR comes with some benefits like meter reading service, free gas safety checks for homeowners and Priority support in an emergency to name a few.

To learn more about the free help and support that is available in your area and check if you are eligible, visit the PSR Scotland website.

Switching Supplier

You can see if you can save money by switching your supplier. You will need to know who your supplier is, what tariff you're currently on and your annual usage. All information will be on your recent bill. If you want to see if you can save money, please click the link to Citizens Advice Scotland's switching website.

Making energy efficiency improvements to your home can reduce heating bills and help lower carbon emissions.

There are currently 4 funding initiatives in operation for home energy and fuel.

The Local Authority ECO Flex Scheme

The funding for this scheme is provided by the main gas and electricity companies in Scotland who are under an obligation to spend some of their profits on improving home energy efficiency.

Our statement on intent paves the way for funding to be made available to certain home owners and for private rented properties, to make improvements to the energy performance of their homes.

The statement also details the households who'll be considered eligible for the scheme and who could benefit from this in the area. 

We approve the eligibility of applications put forward by the approved contractors on behalf of householders for the grant funding. We don't have a contract with the installers to carry out work in the private sector so we don't monitor the work and can't take any responsibility for any work the homeowner has agreed to.   

Householders must be satisfied that they're happy to sign any contract directly with the installers. No upfront payment is needed and work can't start until we've approved the application for grant funding.

Contact the Home Energy team

Home insulation and energy efficiency measures funding

We've secured funding from the Scottish Government to offer insulation and other energy efficiency measures which can be installed in your home.

Valley Group Limited has been appointed as contractor and they will undertake the insulation and energy efficiency measures work. They will carry out a free survey that will identify any insulation and energy efficiency measures that your home may require. Any representative from Valley Group Limited visiting your home, will carry photographic identification and a copy of a letter with more information on the initiative. For more information, email flex.eco@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or call 0141 577 3003.

Energy Efficient Scotland (EES) - area based schemes

Under this scheme (formerly known as HEEPS) local authorities  get funding from the Scottish Government to deliver energy efficiency programmes (mainly solid wall insulation) to homes in areas with high levels of fuel poverty. Homes in Council Tax bands A to C within certain postcode areas of East Renfrewshire will be contacted by our approved contractor if they qualify to have work carried out.

Warmer Homes Scotland

Warmer Homes Scotland is the Scottish Government's national scheme to tackle fuel poverty in Scotland. It provides insulation, efficient heating and renewable technologies in the homes of households who are struggling with the costs of high energy bills to keep their homes warm. 

Residents can only be referred to this scheme by Home Energy Scotland who'll advise if the household qualifies to have work carried out under this initiative. If the household is eligible, a survey will be completed and work carried out by an approved contractor.

Home Energy Scotland loans

For those residents who aren't eligible for funding under the ECO, EES or Warmer Homes Scotland, an interest free loan may be available to households in Scotland who wish to make energy efficient improvements to their home. 

For more information on Warmer Homes Scotland, the interest free loan, or to make your home more energy efficient, contact Home Energy Scotland (opens new window) for free impartial energy advice.

Energy Saving Tips

There are lots of easy ways to reduce our energy consumption in the home. These simple tips will help cut your bills, saving you money in the long run,

• Turn appliances off standby - this could save you a potential £40 a year.
• By turning lights off when you leave a room you could save around £14 a year.
• Reducing the temperature of your washing machine cycle to 30 degrees can help you save £10 a year. Only running your machine when full and reducing the number of times you run it will also bring further savings.
• Boiling water that you don't need can waste a lot of energy. By not overfilling your kettle and even filling a flask you can help keep costs down.
• By turning your thermostat down by just 1 degree you could save yourself as much as £80 a year.
• Try using a slow cooker to make meals. They use the same amount of energy as a lightbulb.

For more useful tips on how to cut your energy bills visit the Energy Saving Trust website.