Emma is supporting a national day to raise awareness of the plight of those struggling to afford the cost of heating their homes.
Today (28th March) is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, run by charity National Energy Action and supported by SSE. Around 4.4 million households in the UK are estimated to be living in fuel poverty, unable to heat their homes to the level needed to stay warm and comfortable.
Emma said:
‘’Fuel poverty is a serious problem, affecting over 4,000 households in my constituency alone, but there are a number of things people can do to make their energy bills more affordable. This includes making your home more energy efficient and checking to see if you are eligible for any discounts on your electricity bills or financial assistance with heating or insulation improvements.
“I would urge anyone worried about meeting their energy costs to contact the independent Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.’’
Maria Wardrobe, Director of External Affairs at NEA said:
“Our charity knows all too well the horrifying reality of the current ‘heat or eat’ debate and we welcome the support of Emma to help tackle this problem in South Shields. It is vital that anyone working with vulnerable and low-income householders is able to identify and assist those who may be in fuel poverty, and we have launched a new version of our popular Fuel Poverty Action Guide to support them through this process and ensure that help reaches those most in need.’’
For further information on Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and to order copies of the Fuel Poverty Action Guide visit www.nea.org.uk. For energy efficiency advice and information contact the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.