A service that aims to help residents live in safer and healthier homes has secured additional funding to provide vouchers to households that use prepayment gas and electricity meters.
The Warm and Safe Wiltshire service is provided by Conservative led Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy.
The vouchers are available to those who:
- Have been affected by the impact of COVID-19, either socially or economically
- Are at risk of self-disconnection (i.e. they may run out of credit before they are next able to top up for themselves
- Are struggling financially and find it difficult to top up their meter
Every eligible household can receive £98, with the possibility of a further £49 if they are in particular hardship. All households that take up this offer would be expected to speak to a Warm and Safe energy advisor, who can provide useful advice about budgeting, energy efficiency and income maximisation.
Conservative Cllr Simon Jacobs, Cabinet Member for Public Health, said: "We know this has been a particularly difficult time for some people and we hope this offer can ease the pressure a little. We don't want anyone to suffer in silence so we urge people to find out more and see if they are eligible, particularly as the colder months are not far away."
For more information people should contact Warm and Safe Wiltshire on 0800 038 5722 or go online.
