Residents across the West Midlands are being encouraged to reach out for support in helping to cut their fuel bills before the colder months and weather return.

Organisers of the Warmer Homes West Midlands website offer an impartial, free to use service that aims to give personalised energy advice to households.

The programme forms part of a wider regional fuel poverty and retrofit programme being led by Energy Capital at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) which also provides jobs and support for local people as part of the region’s green recovery

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “With the rising energy bills and cost of living pressures we’re facing in our region, we need to do all we can to support local residents through the upcoming winter months and beyond.

“That’s why I’m grateful that the Warmer Homes West Midlands programme will provide a welcome support line for those seeking to keep costs down whilst keeping warm in the coming months.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and chair of the WMCA.

Residents can call a freephone number 0808 196 8298 to talk to advisors who also book in home visits for more complex cases. The service also has outreach workers who can deliver energy training in the community for groups and work directly with other organisations supporting vulnerable households. Outreach workers can also carry out home visits where more tailored advice and support can be offered to more vulnerable residents.

Community outreach staff can also offer help with budgeting, access grant funding and supply and install free energy saving measures such as draughtproofing, heat reflective radiator foils and energy efficient lightbulbs.

The service is also beginning to train local community volunteers as energy champions who will deliver energy advice and support for the benefit of their local communities. This empowers local networks to become more resilient and able to cope with current energy challenges.   

The reminder to get in touch with the Warmer Homes West Midlands programme follows the announcement from Ofgem that in October it will be increasing the energy price cap, which will mean higher bills for many consumers.

Rachel Jones, chief executive, Act on Energy said: “The persistent increases in the energy price cap will be the financial breaking point for large numbers of households across the region over the coming months and beyond. Around 15-20 per cent of households across the West Midlands are already deemed to be in fuel poverty and we believe this to be a conservative estimate as data is always backwards looking.

“Our Warmer Homes West Midlands team have been working incredibly hard during 2022. We have already taken over 3,000 calls from vulnerable fuel poor households across the WCMA region so far this year.

“We have also provided a further 2,500 households with energy advice, information and guidance at community events, drop ins and surgeries. The team are expecting the winter months to be our most challenging period yet but remain steadfast in our desire to support as many households as possible through this extremely challenging period.

“We would encourage any resident to pick up the phone and call us if they are losing sleep over this issue and impacting their health and wellbeing.”

Cllr Ian Courts, WMCA portfolio lead for energy and environment and leader of Solihull Council, said: “The Warmer Homes programme is offering free and trusted advice to help those who may be worried about their increasing heating bills which is much needed in this difficult time.

“I hope many people will be able to benefit and save some money from this advice, ready for the winter months. The programme also means residents can learn how to heat their homes more efficiently and decrease their carbon footprint, therefore contributing to the goal of becoming a net zero region by 2041.”

Warmer Homes West Midlands is run by Act on Energy, a member of the WMCA fuel poverty task force. The West Midlands has some of the highest rates of fuel poverty in England, second only to the North West region.

For more information on Warmer Homes West Midlands, please visit their dedicated website.