This month sees the launch of a new free adviceline and community-based support which will provide crucial help to people struggling to manage their energy use or falling into fuel debt.
Severn Wye Energy Agency will be delivering the service in partnership with Monmouthshire County Council and it will run until September 2025.
This important new service will provide practical advice and support to disadvantaged and vulnerable households in fuel poverty, empowering them to get on top of their energy use and manage bills. Support will be provided through a free adviceline, community hub ‘surgeries’, and in people’s homes.
Severn Wye supports people to take control of their energy use by helping them understand their energy consumption, save energy at home, communicate with their energy providers, and access grants and other support to better manage their bills.
Davinder Johal, project manager at Severn Wye, says:
‘The challenge of staying warm and healthy at home is becoming ever greater, in particular for households on lower incomes. Severn Wye has a strong track record of supporting people experiencing fuel poverty and we’re delighted to be extending this service across Monmouthshire. Our free adviceline and community-based experts will work with residents to reduce their energy use and keep warm.’
County Councillor Catrin Maby, Cabinet member for Climate Change and the Environment at Monmouthshire County Council said:
‘I am delighted to be able to announce this new service for Monmouthshire households. The cost of living crisis is continuing to bite and it’s reassuring to know that Severn Wye experts will be on hand to help residents across the county.’
Even before the recent increases in the energy price cap the number of households experiencing fuel poverty in Monmouthshire was above the national average for Wales. The free adviceline and community-based advisers will work with diverse communities including those with health conditions, older people and people living in areas of deprivation. Building on existing partnerships, they will work alongside other frontline services to make sure vulnerable households can access appropriate support.
Frontline services already familiar with Severn Wye’s community-based advice will now be able to refer clients from Monmouthshire to receive the same expert and caring support that’s available in other counties. Organisations wanting to find out more or refer clients can do so here: severnwye.org.uk/monmouthshire
£300K of funding over two years has been provided by OFGEM’s Redress fund through the Energy Saving Trust.
