Help to cut bills
Craig takes up new post with area’s HEAT Project
A new energy adviser has taken up post with the HEAT Project and is keen to hear from people in the area who want to find out more about reducing their energy bills and saving money.
Craig Thompson started with the home energy advice team in June and is already busy providing free, impartial home energy advice to households in north and east Perthshire.
His role, which is for a period of two years and is full-time, is funded by the Energy Redress scheme which uses money collected from fines paid by energy providers for missing targets or misselling to support the provision of energy advice to members of local communities.
Craig has worked as an energy adviser for a number of years, including for Hillcrest Homes and SSE, and was also the project manger for the smart meter trial project in Alyth several years ago.
One of the things he is particularly passionate about is tackling fuel poverty and helping people in the community to reduce their fuel bills.
He explained: “If your household is spending 10 per cent of your income on energy bills then you are in fuel poverty and may be entitled to help or support.
“My role is to try to give people whatever advice there is to help households reduce their energy bills, saving money and the planet at the same time.
“The area we cover is roughly from Perth to Pitlochry and Coupar Angus to Kirkmichael but if you feel we could help us then please just get in touch and we’ll see what we can do.
“I’m an energy efficiency geek and I am pretty confident we can help anyone reduce their energy bills.”
Craig went on: “I know the ins and outs of the energy industry having worked in it for so many years and can help people in a variety of ways.
“There are four main drivers of fuel poverty – energy efficiency, household income, energy prices and individual behaviour.
“People may be entitled to get grants to insulate their homes which I can help point them to, I can help people switch energy suppliers to get a better deal or negotiate a reduction in energy debt.
“I can come out to people’s homes and give them pointers on where energy – and therefore by extension money – can be saved.
“And it’s not just about fuel poverty, people may want to reduce their energy consumption to help tackle the climate crisis for example.
“The declared climate emergency is obviously a massive issue but I want to help people today.
“Fuel poverty is a lived experience for a lot of people who are dealing with a very real problem in their homes at the moment and which can often be addressed.”
The HEAT Project can help people whether they are in private or social rented properties or if they are homeowners.
And Craig will be available to chat to anyone about energy advice at the bari Food Store in Rattray Hall on Balmoral Road every Wednesday from 4pm to 6pm.
Alternatively he can be contacted by calling 07868 864418 or emailing craig@ theheatproject.org