Utilities

In the run up to publication of my new book Carers and Caring; the One Stop Guide; how to care for older relatives and friends I am sharing an A to Z of some of the practical solutions learned from research and experience. If you think any problems have been missed you can email me and tell me, and I’ll make sure they are covered in the next edition and online on my website at www.juneandrews.net. 

Utilities—getting help

There are extra services available to help manage energy use if someone is on the Priority Services Register. The register is a free and voluntary system that your supplier uses to ensure the correct support is given to the most vulnerable customers. Those who qualify include people who have reached State Pension age, people who are disabled or have a long-term medical condition, and people who have a hearing or sight condition. If the older person you care for has dementia, that would count as a mental health condition for the purposes of the register.

You can apply by contacting the energy supplier or network operator. Give them your contact details and as much information as you can about the needs of the person you care for. The supplier passes the details to the network operator to add them to the register. If the person has a different supplier for gas and electricity you need to contact them both.

The help the vulnerable customer can get includes priority support in an emergency, so they could provide heating and cooking facilities if the supply is cut off. They can give advance notice of planned power cuts. If nobody can read the meter they can provide a meter-reading service or a smart meter. As a carer you can be nominated to receive communications and bills so that you can deal with them on behalf of the older person. 

Some suppliers offer free gas safety checks every twelve months. You can request a safety check if the person lives alone or with others, has reached State Pension age and gets one of the means-tested benefits.

The Ofgem website at www.ofgem.gov.uk has details of social schemes such as the Warm Home Discount, which supports people who are living in fuel poverty or a fuel poverty-risk group. There is more about this in the book, as well as information about Cold Weather Payments. Suppliers are obliged to promote measures that improve the ability of low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable households to heat their homes. The actions required are those that result in heat savings, such as the replacement of a broken heating system or the upgrade of an inefficient one. The larger suppliers can help if you are struggling with a bill. Ask them.

Three hints:

1.     Remember that keeping warm (or cool) is important

2.     Check out whether you are eligible for any support schemes

3.     The larger companies have trust funds if you are struggling to pay a debt