Member Article

Call to help elderly in energy switch

Citizens Advice Darlington is calling on people in Darlington to swot up on switching energy supplier and, where possible, help an older relative or neighbour find a better deal.

The local charity is part of Big Energy Saving Week – a joint campaign with Energy Saving Trust, the Department of Energy and Climate Change and Citizens Advice. Citizens Advice Darlington is encouraging people to visit BeAnEnergyShopper.com to find out how much they could save by switching energy suppliers.

As people prepare for winter one of the things many can do is switch to a better gas and electricity deal. The findings from an Ipsos MORI survey of 2,000 UK participants shows millions of householders across the UK don’t realise how much they could save from switching energy supplier or tariff.

The figures find that:

40 per cent of people don’t know how to help elderly switch.

Over 12 million don’t believe switching could save them money. 16 million householders believe switching myths, such as that they may be disconnected for a short period whilst changing energy supplier.

For Big Energy Saving Week this year Citizens Advice Darlington is urging householders to help elderly people who may need support to winter-proof their energy bills. Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of people with an elderly friend or relative believe their elderly friend or relative cannot switch because they don’t know how to use the internet.

Online searches are the main way Brits find the best energy deal – over three quarters (78 per cent) of us would use an online site to switch, yet only 13 per cent have actually taken the time to help an elderly person to find a better deal.

This is in contrast with other chores undertaken by friends, neighbours and family. Of those running errands for older people, 61 per cent do their grocery shopping, 58 per cent visit them regularly for company and nearly half (47 per cent) drive them to local services.

The findings from the study showed that misunderstandings and misconceptions could be a major reason behind why people are not switching. Nearly two thirds of people (60 per cent) wrongly think of the UK population believe one or more switching myths were true.

A third of people wrongly think that prepayment customers can’t switch supplier if they’re in any debt.

A quarter of people wrongly think that tenants require their landlord’s permission to switch. 25 per cent of people wrongly think they might be disconnected when changing supplier. One in five (22 per cent) wrongly think you can’t change energy supplier when you move house, rather than staying with the property’s existing supplier.

Neeraj Sharma, chief executive at Citizens Advice Darlington, said: “Switching myths mean people are missing out on saving money on their energy bills. By shopping around and switching to a different energy deal consumers can cut hundreds of pounds from their gas and electricity bills. Whether you own your home or rent it, and regardless of whether you have a prepayment meter, there are savings to be made. The process of shopping around and switching is fairly straightforward but some people might be unsure about how to find the best tariff. Others might be put off by common myths about switching.”

Philip Sellwood, chief executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: “What’s most concerning is that a fifth of the people we spoke to (20 per cent) said they were aware an elderly person they look after has fallen behind or been unable to pay their energy bills. We’re urging sons, daughters, friends, neighbours and even older people themselves to help each other, or someone they know, to check and make sure they are on the best deal online or over the phone. It could make a real difference this winter.”

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Amber Rudd, said: “By not switching, hardworking bill payers are missing out on hundreds of pounds – savings which could especially help older people heat their homes for less this winter. We’re spreading the message to help friends, family and neighbours to shop around for a better deal. We’ve made it easier to change supplier and increased competition in the market – so there’s never been a better time to switch.”

Big Energy Saving Week is a national campaign to help people cut their fuel bills and get all the financial support they are entitled to. The campaign provides advice to people over the telephone through the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234, or face-to-face at hundreds of events being held across Britain.

For advice about switching and to find the best energy deal visit BeAnEnergyShopper.com For advice and tips on how to save money on your energy bill call the Energy Saving Advice service on 0300 123 1234.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Citizens Advice Darlington .