Campaign bid to help public save on energy

GLASGOW North West Citizens Advice Bureau is encouraging residents to “save your energy” as part of Big Energy Saving Month 2021.

The nationwide campaign which encourages people to seek advice comes after more than one in ten people missed a bill because they ran out of money.

It focuses on five key consumer groups including people using electric only heating, prepayment metres, those struggling with energy bills, residents who frequently turn off the heating to save money and people who can’t access deals and support online.

As part of the campaign, new research from YouGov for Citizens Advice Scotland reveals that 14 per cent of people who have run out of money before payday has missed an energy payment.

The campaign launches as temperatures fall across the country and fears of increasing energy costs as more and more people stay at home to comply with Coronavirus restrictions.

Rob Gallagher, CEO of Glasgow North West CAB, said: “As temperatures fall and energy bills hit doormats and inboxes in Northwest Glasgow this January, people might be starting to really feel the pinch of rising bills.

“This is particularly the case in 2021, after we all spent so much time at home due to restrictions during the pandemic.

“Worryingly, 14 per cent of people who have run out of money before pay day since lockdown in March missed an energy payment as a result.

“Glasgow North West Citizens Advice Bureau helps thousands of people every year, and we put money back into people’s pockets. We’d encourage people who are facing increasingly difficult energy bills to seek advice so we can save their energy this January.”