Energy Advice
Information and advice to help you save money on gas and electricity costs including help with energy debt, help with appliances and top tips for energy saving.
Our specialist advisors offer a wide range of advice and assistance to help you fully understand your energy issues and become more energy efficient. Anyone can access our service, regardless of your heating system or meter type and all advice is confidential and free of charge.
The rising cost of living has had far reaching impact and many people are struggling to maintain their gas and electricity supply as a result of financial difficulty. This handy guide from OFGEM (opens new window) could help to answer any energy related questions you may have during the current crisis.
What we do
- Help to understand your energy bills
- Advice and support to help you find the best available fuel tariff
- Assistance to resolve problems with your gas and electricity bills
- Advice on financial assistance to deal with fuel debt
- Help to access insulation and heating grants
- Energy efficiency advice
Financial Support with Energy Costs
A number of organisations can offer support if you are struggling with energy costs due to low income. These include:
| Support Fund | What is Available | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Fuelbank Foundation top up voucher | Vouchers for pre-payment meter customers with a low income valued at £30 in summer and £49 in winter with additional top up payments made in periods of cold weather. | Contact the Advice Shop online for a referral |
| Scottish Welfare Fund | Crisis Grant may be available for people on qualifying benefits experiencing energy crisis that causes risk to health or home. | Find out more and how to apply here |
| Royal British Legion grants | Offer Cost of Living Grants and energy vouchers for veterans and their families | Find out more about grants and how to apply here (opens new window) |
Gas and Electricity Debt
If you have fallen behind with your gas or electricity payments, many energy suppliers have hardship funds that you can apply to if you have debt.
Check the table below to see if your supplier has a scheme that you could access:
| Supplier Fund | How to Access |
|---|---|
| British Gas Energy Trust *also open to non-customers | Apply online via the online application form (opens new window) |
| EDF Energy Customer Support Fund | Apply through the Let's Talk web form (opens new window) or call 0800 269 450 |
| E.on Next Energy Fund | Apply through the Let's Talk web form (opens new window) |
| Octopus Energy Octo Assist Fund | Apply through the Octopus web form (opens new window) |
| OVO Energy Hardship Scheme | Contact OVO by telephone on 0330 303 5063 |
| Scottish Power Hardship Fund | Apply online via the Scottish Power Hardship Fund web form (opens new window) |
| Shell Energy Support Fund | Contact Shell by telephone on 0330 094 5800 |
| Utility Warehouse Customer Support Scheme | Contact Utility Warehouse by telephone on 0333 777 3215 |
To speak to an energy advisor you can contact the Advice Shop by telephone on 01506 283000 (select option 4). You can also get in touch by email at energy.advice@westlothian.gov.uk (opens new window)
Alternatively, if you would like an advisor to contact you, please fill in our online referral form
