TAKE ACTION TO CUT ENERGY BILLS
Britain's big six energy companies have come under pressure from the regulator and consumer groups to cut household gas and electricity bills following a sharp drop in wholesale costs. It comes as no surprise to homeowners that despite wholesale energy costs at their lowest levels for almost four years the major suppliers are showing no signs of reducing prices, or even of explaining to customers why they are not doing so. Faced with another year of high prices, B&ES, who operate the free consumer advice service the Heating Helpline, say homeowners can take one important step to reducing these bills by installing a new boiler.
22 July 2014 – Britain’s big six energy companies have come under pressure from the regulator and consumer groups to cut household gas and electricity bills following a sharp drop in wholesale costs. It comes as no surprise to homeowners that despite wholesale energy costs at their lowest levels for almost four years the major suppliers are showing no signs of reducing prices, or even of explaining to customers why they are not doing so.
Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES), who operate Heating Helpline, the free consumer advice service, says there is one very important step you can take to cut these bills – if your boiler is 10 or more years old it really is worth considering replacing it with a modern condensing boiler. The current generation of ultra efficient condensing boilers convert over 90% of the fuel they use and are around 40% more fuel efficient than the older boilers they replace. That can represent big savings on your energy bills.
The summer months are also a good time to get this work done as heating engineers are far less busy – so they are more readily available and prices can be lower. And, as the Heating Helpline points out, it’s not just money at stake but the well being of your family – around 50 people in the UK still needlessly die every year from preventable carbon monoxide poisoning, with hundreds more made seriously ill, with the biggest culprit being older boilers, and especially those that have not been regularly serviced.
So, whilst waiting for the energy companies to reduce bills could be a lost cause, a new boiler will be safer and get your bills down for years to come. And it’s not difficult to find a reputable, reliable registered engineer. A good place to start is the Heating Helpline on 0800 810 8303 or the website at http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk. On the website homeowners can put in their postcode and it will produce a list of reputable, Gas Safe registered installers in their chosen area. All the heating engineers listed are also TrustMark members – the Government backed scheme to help consumers find local trustworthy tradespeople.
Ends
Issued on behalf of the Building & Engineering Services Association (B&ES) by Next Step Marketing Ltd
Media enquiries to: Heather Lambert. Tel: 44(0)1256 472020;
Fax: 44(0)1256 471010; E-mail: heather@nextstepmarketing.co.uk
Notes to editors
Since its formation in 1904, B&ES, the Building & Engineering Services Association (formerly the HVCA) has represented the interests of companies engaged in a wide range of building and engineering services including domestic heating and renewable technologies.
B&ES members are subject to regular, third-party inspection and assessment of their technical competence and commercial capability, carried out by an independent certification body at least every three years.
B&ES members who undertake gas installations are registered with Gas Safe – the gas safety watchdog body – and are also members of TrustMark, the Government-endorsed scheme designed to direct customers towards reliable tradespeople.
B&ES operates the Heating Helpline (http://www.heatinghelpline.org.uk) to provide consumers with free, impartial advice on every aspect of home heating.
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