BANK BOOST
Exact code on household bill reveals if you can get free home upgrades worth THOUSANDS – and cut bills by £400
We reveal what other help you can get if you don't qualify for the scheme
AN exact code on one of your essential household bills could reveal whether you qualify for free home upgrades worth thousands of pounds.
If you live in a certain council tax band, you might qualify for a Government scheme designed to help you save money on your energy bills.
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The Great British Insulation Scheme launched last September and offers households help towards the cost of energy-saving measures.
You can get help towards the cost of having a range of insulation installed, including cavity wall, loft, park home and underfloor.
Having cavity wall insulation installed in your home can run into the thousands of pounds, while it can save you up to £400 a year on your energy bills.
But crucially, to qualify for the scheme, you must live in a home which is in a council tax band between A-D if you live in England and A-E if you are based in Scotland or Wales.
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Your home must also have an energy performance certificate (EPC) rating of D or below.
An EPC tells you how energy-efficient a property is, with A being very efficient and G being inefficient.
Bear in mind, just because you fit both of the above criteria, that doesn't mean you are guaranteed help through the scheme.
The Government also takes into account your household income, and if you're on any benefits.
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You can start an application for help through the scheme on the Government's website.
You have to leave your email address and phone number so your energy supplier can contact you if you're eligible.
It's also worth noting, you may also have to pay towards some of the costs of having the insulation installed and there's no guarantee you'll get it for free.
What other help is there?
An alternative to the Great British Insulation Scheme is the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
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Under the scheme, suppliers have a legal obligation to implement energy-saving measures in your home.
Help is offered on a case-by-case basis, but it can mean having a new boiler fitted, or loft or cavity wall insulation put in, often for free.
You only qualify for the ECO under certain circumstances, for example if you claim certain benefits and live in private housing.
The list of benefits that could qualify you for the scheme is:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit
- Pension Guarantee Credit
- Pension Savings Credit
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Child Benefit
- Housing Benefit
You also could be eligible if you living in social housing.
In addition to this, households also need to be living in properties with an energy efficiency rating of D-G if they own it, or E-G if they are renting from a private landlord.
You can find out what energy efficiency rating your home is .
Bear in mind, you need permission from your landlord if you are privately renting and want to get work done through the ECO.
Also, just because you are eligible for the ECO scheme, that doesn't mean you are guaranteed help.
Meanwhile, you may have to fund part of the energy-improving measures in your home.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year - irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type - this will give you your usage costs.
You'll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage - this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you'll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
You can apply by contacting either your local council or energy supplier.
You can find your local council by using the .
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If you're not happy with the work that's been done in your home under the ECO scheme, you can contact the installer or the company that commissioned out the work.
If they don't solve the problem, you should contact your local Citizen's Advice branch.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
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