Keep warm and keep well this winter
Published on 19 January 2018 11:05 AM
Keeping your home warm is one of the first things you can do to keep warm and well and avoid any unnecessary visits to the hspital or GP.
Heating your home
Over winter it is important your home is heated, this not only keeps you warm but can prevent difficult conditions such as damp.
Age UK recommend that you keep your living room at 21'c and your bedroom at 18'c to avoid cold-related illness including respiratory diseases and heart attacks.
No matter what you pay for your heating always keep up to date with the latest prices from gas and electricity providers.
If you haven't switched your supplier for a while, you might be on their 'standard tariff' which is usually the most expensive. You could save ££s not by switching supplier but just changing the tariff you are on!
Why not call them and ask which is their best rate for you?
Priority Service Register
If you are a pensioner, disabled or chronically sick or hearing/visually impaired, you can add yourself to your energy provider's Priority Service Register. This is free and entitles you to:
- free advice on being more energy-efficient
- protection from cold callers with a password protection scheme to keep you safe
- your meter moved free of charge if it’s hard for you to use or read the meter
- a free quarterly meter reading if you can’t read your meter
- bills sent to a relative, carer or friend to help you check them
- your bills and meter readings in a braille, large print, audio tape, textphone or typetalk if you’re visually impaired
- advance notice if your supply is going to be interrupted
- priority reconnection if your supply is interrupted
- alternative facilities for cooking and heating if your supply is interrupted
- extra help to use your meter or appliances
- annual gas safety checks (conditions apply)
If you have different suppliers for your gas and electricity you will need to be on both registers. All you have to do is call and ask to be added to their Proirity Service Register.
Switch your supplier
You could save £100s by switching your energy suppliers. Why not take a look at the websites which compare prices and see how much you could save.
Citizens advice can provide you with advice about switching energy tariffs and suppliers, advice about fuel debt, benefit checks and application support.
Tel: 0344 848 7970
You can use various websites to compare prices: