The Government is sending every electricity bill payer £400* at £66 a month this winter. Do you need it all? Most people certainly do and many more people will find that they will need to choose between eating and heating this Winter**. But some have efficient, cosy homes with low energy bills and some have second homes but are still getting a second £400.
If you want to help others who can't afford their energy, but are losing heat or could reduce electricity with small measures every donation here will be put to good use. For every £100 we receive we will be able to provide energy saving measures in 4 homes, saving the resident on average 10% of their energy bill. And some Community Energy London groups are able to get measures installed for those who struggle.
Although there is now a £2,500 average price cap from October 2022 this is still doubling of bills since October 2021. The End Fuel Poverty Coalition** estimates that this will still leave 6.5 million households in fuel poverty this winter. And the Joseph Rowntree Foundation*** calculates a shortfall between the rise in the cost of living and support of £800 for the most vulnerable. Because the cap is a Kwh cap those with energy efficient homes will not pay nearly as much, whereas those with big leaky homes will be charged much more.
Community Energy London (CEL) has been working since 2017 to reduce energy waste and to install community renewable electricity across London. We worry about excessive greenhouse gases damaging our Planet and are inspired by the actions of groups around London to save energy and the cost of bills. We are now building on this work to give more energy advice sessions and to distribute many more small items to help the most vulnerable keep warm and keep the lights on this winter.
We estimate that a home energy pack with draft excluder, a 3 pack of radiator foils and 10 LEDs light bulbs would cost £25 plus postage but save an average household 10% or £250. People on pre-payment meters are likely to need emergency help to avoid being cut off (with even more costs to themselves) and prepayment tokens can be a lifeline.
Although many people could install small measures like this themselves, they may not be able to access or pay for them. CEL members have experience of providing helplines and visiting people at home to help with such measures and to direct Londoners to financial help.
CEL's Community Energy Winter Support offers the opportunity to donate to this fund to provide help. Individuals, businesses and communities are welcome to join us to help this Winter.
* The Help with your energy bills' web page explains the Government schemes. The £400 'Energy Bill Discount' is to be placed in the electricity account of every bill payer in monthly amounts of £66 from October 22 to March 23 and it covers the 'Cost of Living Payment', 'Cold Weather Payments' , and 'Warm Home Discount' (several means tested).
The new energy cap announced on 9th September says that, from 1st October, the average unit price for dual fuel customers paying by direct debit will be limited to 34.0p/kWh for electricity and 10.3p/kWh for gas. This is an increase, based on Ofgems note that the cost from 1st April to 30th September 2022 was 28.0p/kWh for electricity and 7p/kWh for gas. (these including VAT and excluding daily standing charges.)
The rates are always higher for people on Pre-payment meters, so every unit of electricity and heat that can be saved is precious and many measures to make a difference can be provided with these donations.
**The End Fuel Poverty Coalition.
*** The Joseph Rowntrees Foundation report following the Help with Your Bills announcement calculated an average £800 a year shortfall between the overall rise in the cost of living and the support package for families on means-tested benefits.