Grants available for free boilers

There's a number of ways to improve your home to make it more comfortable, healthier and cheaper to live in. These could involve insulation to make your home energy efficient, upgrading the heating system, or even installing renewable energy measures.

Free boilers

Old, inefficient boilers are expensive to run. Replacing them with a new one can help save between 20% and 30% on your energy bills.

You can apply today to see if you qualify for a free boiler. Your boiler needs to be eight years old or more and you must own your property. You must also have a low disposable income after housing and energy costs. If we replace your boiler we may also be able to help with outstanding energy debt.

This funding is available for a limited period of time. It'll be given to those who apply first.

You can apply online now using the form. You can also call our Warm Homes team on 01226 773366. You'll be able to ask any questions or get help to complete the form.

Free gas central heating

We're currently offering free gas central heating systems to homeowners, and grants towards the cost of gas central heating to private landlords, whose homes currently lack gas central heating. 

If you're a homeowner and on a low income, or a private landlord whose tenant is on a low income, and:

• you don't have a gas central heating system in your property
• you have gas fires, electric storage heaters or coal fires as your main heating

You could be eligible for a grant towards gas central heating. This is subject to you being eligible and surveys.

You can apply online now using the form. You can also call our Warm Homes team on 01226 773366. You'll be able to ask any questions or get help to complete the form.

Trusted partner referral

If you're one of our trusted partners and you'd like to make a new referral, please use our trusted partner referral form below. You'll need your trusted partner organisation code to do this.

If you need to check on an existing referral, please email warmhomes@barnsley.gov.uk.

If you're interested in becoming a trusted partner, please send your contact details to hsg@barnsley.gov.uk and one of the team will get in touch.

Struggling to pay for your gas and electricity?

The price of gas and electricity has increased greatly over recent weeks. If you're worrying about what to do, did you know that there is support available to help you during this time?

You can contact your supplier, to discuss ways to help pay what you may owe. This should be made affordable to you based on your budget. Your energy supplier may have support funds available.

British Gas - British Gas Energy Trust

• They offer a number of schemes to help people who are in arrears. You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply.

Octopus Energy - Octo Assist Fund

• To apply you'd need to be an Octopus Energy customer and are currently struggling with your bills.

OVO - OVO Energy Fund

• You have to either be an existing OVO customer or previous customer. This is designed for people in debt of over £150 and unable to pay their bills

Scottish Power - Scottish Power Hardship Fund

• If you're an existing customer of Scottish Power and having difficulties paying your bills you may be able to get additional support.

National Energy Action - NEA – 0800 3047159 Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm. 

• A charity who specialise in assisting people with help with energy debt.  Giving benefits advice and making the most of your income. Support with gas and electricity accounts including fuel debt and switching suppliers and helping with energy efficiency.  They can also help you apply for trust fund money, Water rates, Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register details.

If you need extra financial support, you can contact:

• Money Advice Service - 0800 1387777 
• National Debtline - 0808 8084000
• Citizens Advice - 0808 2231133
• Step Change - 0800 1381111 

Apply for energy bill discounts and benefits

We can see if you may be eligible for three heating related benefits:

• £140 discount on your energy bills with the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
  This should be paid direct to you if you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit. Energy suppliers may also offer this discount to other people who receive certain benefits, are on a low income, or are elderly. To find out if you qualify you contact your energy supplier directly.
  
  
• £100 - £300 towards your energy bills with the Winter Fuel Payment.
  
  
• Extra help if temperatures fall below a certain level with the Cold Weather Payment.

Pay less for the energy you use

If your energy bill is higher than usual, take a look at these common problems with energy bills on the Citizens Advice website. They also have a tool to help understand the different parts of your energy bill.

There are two kinds of gas and electricity meters. The type you have has a big impact on how much you pay for energy. They are:

• pre-payment meter - you have to pay for energy before you use it, usually through a card or key at a shop
• credit meter - you pay for energy after you've used it, usually via direct debit

Paying for your energy with prepayment meters often means you're paying a lot more for your energy.

Contact your energy supplier for more details on how to change your meter. If your current supplier charges a fee to change, consider contacting another supplier to see if they could offer you a free credit meter. 

Find out more about your rights regarding pre-payment meters.

Yorkshire Water support 

There are more ways to help with being more efficient with your household water usage. Yorkshire Water's save water can help provide support for your home and your garden. 

Yorkshire Water have a free water saving pack that will help, with products that will help to reduce water waste. This includes 4 minute shower timer, toilet leaking detection strips to help bring water costs down. 

Smart meters

Energy companies are currently offering their customers smart meters, with everyone due to be offered one by 2025.

Getting a smart meter may help you better understand how your home uses energy and help you save money. You don't have to accept it if you don't want one.

You can find out more about smart meters on the Smart Energy GB website.

Get help with energy debt

We can offer you help with energy debt. Firstly find out about the common problems with energy bills and if you're responsible for the bill.

If you're responsible for the arrears but can't pay them up front, try to make contact with your energy company as soon as possible. Before you call, write down your incoming and outgoings and work out how much you could afford to pay back as a repayment plan. When speaking with your energy company make sure you tell them if you're on a low income or benefits. Also if there's anyone in your home who is elderly, disabled or under five.

Trusts and funds that can help clear energy debt

There are several energy trusts and funds which can help clear debt on fuel bills.

In some cases these trusts and funds can also provide payments to help with the cost of buying essential, energy efficient household items. We can help you with applying for these; contact us using our online form.

Register for priority service from your energy supplier

You might be able to get extra support from your energy supplier by signing up to the priority services register if you:

• are disabled or seriously ill
• are recovering from an injury
• have mental health problems
• don't speak or read English well
• have children under 5, or are pregnant
• have reached your state pension age
• are in a vulnerable situation

Benefits of priority service can include free energy saving advice.  A password protection scheme to protect you from cold-callers.  Your meter moved free of charge if it's hard for you to use or read.  Bills sent to a relative, carer or friend to help you check them. You might also get advance notice if your supply is going to be interrupted, priority re-connection if your supply is interrupted.  You may also get annual gas safety checks.  Find out more on the Ofgem priority services register website.

To find out if you're eligible to join the priority service register, speak to your energy supplier or contact us.

Energy suppliers priority service

• British Gas
• EDF
• E.ON Next
• Northern Powergrid

Where else you can get help

If you live in a council property you can find out more about energy efficiency on the Berneslai Homes website.

If you're a housing association tenant, contact your landlord directly for more details. 

If you own or privately rent your home please contact us for advice using the contact form or phone number. We can help you with:

• access to insulation and boiler grants
• signposting to companies and charities who can provide advice on saving energy and reducing fuel bills.
• keeping warm in winter

Follow our Facebook page to see updates, and read our keep warm and well this winter leaflet.

If you're living in private rented home you can read more about what rights you have as a tenant. Landlords can also find out more about energy efficiency.

Council flexible eligibility – statement of intent

Our Statement of Intent for the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) sets out the additional criteria that we'll adopt to determine whether a resident is eligible to receive works under the ECO Flex route.

If you're a contractor who has a resident that you believe is eligible for ECO Flex, please contact warmhomes@barnsley.gov.uk.

Please note, declarations will only be issued to organisations who have already registered with, and been verified by us.

Provision of a declaration by us doesn't in any way endorse the organisation that has requested it.

ECO4-FLEX scheme

We're part of the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme, a government energy efficiency project in which energy suppliers support households who wouldn't qualify for support through means tested benefits to cut their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions by installing energy saving and energy efficiency measures.

ECO4-FLEX is run by private companies (installers) and the funding for the improvements is awarded by energy suppliers. Our role is to assess the eligibility of a household. We're not involved or responsible for issuing the funding, appointing contractors or installing the works.

All contracts for the works are between the resident and the company providing the installation and we recommend that you contact a handful of the approved installers listed below for a quote before settling on the best one for you.

The eligibility criteria are wide, so visit the Ofgem website for more information or call us on 01226 773366 and we can advise you on your eligibility and provide further details about the scheme.

Providers

We're looking to maximize the use of the funding in the borough so we're happy to promote any provider on this page who can demonstrate they can access this funding and deliver the works to the required standards by OFGEM.

If your organization wants to be included on the page so residents can contact you directly, please email warmhomes@barnsley.gov.uk with the title 'ECO4 Provider' and we'll advise on next steps.

These are the approved providers we recommend for residents:

• J&J Crump - 0800 783 3127
• Simple Heating Services - 0330 124 4423
• Northern Retrofit - 01482 298 550