Save energy in your home
For advice about ways to save energy in your home, the Energy Saving Trust website provides lots of information, see Energy advice for your home - Energy Saving Trust
Energy grants - Help to Heat
Find energy grants for your home (Help to Heat) - GOV.UK
British Sign Language (BSL) The Royal Association for Deaf People has a range of BSL videos with tips and advice on saving energy and water. They also have a BSL video on cold weather advice.
Mencap easy read guidance
Mencap have also produced an easy read guide how to save energy and money at home (PDF, 1.55MB).
Ofgem
Ofgem provide actions and tips to reduce energy use and save money including:
- one-off quick fix actions you can take immediately to save energy
- low effort, no-cost actions you can take every day
- small home improvements costing £10 to £50
Check out other pages on the Ofgem website to understand your rights as an energy consumer.
Smart energy meters
A smart gas and electricity meter can help you take control of your home energy use. Smart meters come with an in-home display which shows how much energy is being used in near real time. You can see what you're spending in pounds and pence, which can help you to better understand and reduce your energy use.
Energy suppliers are installing smart meters in homes across the country at no extra cost, to replace traditional meters. Contact your energy supplier to get a smart meter installed in your home.
If you're a council tenant, not all of our homes are suitable for smart energy meters.
If you're a private renter, check your tenancy agreement as you may need your landlords permission to change the metering in the property, but they should not unreasonably prevent it.
If you're a landlord, Ofgem recommend that tenants tell landlords before getting a smart meter installed, but that you should not unreasonably prevent installation.
Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham
Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham offers specialist energy advice to residents of the borough as part of the Big Energy Saving Network. They can provide tips to help you check, switch and save on your energy bills, advice on how to resolve issues with your energy supplier, and support applying for energy grants, if eligible. They offer energy saving workshops and one-to-one appointments. Call 080 8278 7832 or find out more on the Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham
Switching energy supplier or tariff
If you're trying to save money on your gas or electricity, you might consider either switching suppliers or switching to a different tariff with your current supplier. Find out more about switching on the following websites:
Speaking to your energy provider
If you're struggling to afford your gas and electricity bills, contact your supplier to discuss ways to pay what you owe them. Suppliers must work with you to agree on a payment plan you can afford under Ofgem rules. This includes reviewing a plan you have agreed before.
Contact your supplier as soon as you can if you are worried about paying your energy bills. They have agreed emergency measures with the government during the pandemic, including fresh commitments to support people most in need this winter.
You can ask for:
- a review of your payments and debt repayments
- payment breaks or reductions
- more time to pay
- access to hardship funds
Priority Service registration – a free support service if you are in a vulnerable situation.
Solar panels
WaterHelp and WaterSure
Thames Water offers 2 schemes to help those finding it hard to pay their water bills.
WaterHelp
Low-income households may be able to get a 50 per cent discount on their water bills through the WaterHelp scheme.
Qualifying households will need to have a total yearly income of less than £21,749.
You can find out more about how Thames Water assesses your income on the WaterHelp application form.
Find out more about WaterHelp.
WaterSure
If you're on a water meter but find it hard to save water because you have a large family or water-dependent medical condition, you may be able to get your bills capped through the WaterSure scheme.
You can view the full eligibility criteria on the Thames Water website.
Find out more about WaterSure.
Contact your housing provider
If you are a social tenant contact us about housing advice to report any concerns about conditions in your property of for more information on their plans to improve the energy-efficiency of your home.