Category: Energy Advice

The Energy Price Guarantee and what this means for you

By Kate Royston

On Thursday 8th September, Liz Truss announced the government’s new Energy Price Guarantee – new support for households and businesses replacing the Energy Price Cap mechanism.

What does this mean for households?

The Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) will mean that an average household should pay no more than £2,500 a year on their energy bills, with effect from 1st October 2022. The EPG will be in place for two years.

Households will also receive the previously announced £400 from the Energy Bills Support Scheme, paid in 6 instalments, as a credit on your electricity bill, from October.

The most vulnerable households can also receive ‘Cost of Living’ payments, already announced. These include the Cost of living payment for those on low income benefits and tax credits (£650), Disability Cost of Living Payment (£150) and Pensioner Cost of Living Payment (£300 on top of the Winter Fuel Payments) https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment.

How will the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) be applied to your energy bills

The EPG limits the amount you can be charged per unit of gas and electricity. Your actual bill/payment will be based on the amount of energy you use and the unit price as well as the standing charge.

For households on a pre-payment meter, the EPG will be applied to the rate you pay on your meter for each unit of electricity.

If you’re on a standard variable tariff, the average unit price for dual fuel customers paying by direct debit will be limited to 34.0p/kWh for electricity and 10.3p/kWh for gas, inclusive of VAT, from 1st October. This rate may be higher if you’re not dual-fuel or have different payment terms.

If you’re on a fixed tariff which is at a higher rate caused by recent energy price rises, we understand your unit prices will be reduced by your energy supplier.

Whatever your tariff, your energy supplier will automatically adjust your rates. You don’t need to apply for this, and don’t need to contact your energy supplier.

Households outside of the scheme

If you are not connected to the gas or electricity grids, and don’t have a standard gas and/or electricity contract the government has said you will be no worse off and will receive comparative support through a discretionary fund (to be announced).

What does the Energy Price Guarantee mean for businesses?

A six-month scheme is being introduced for businesses and other non-domestic energy users which will be “offering support as is being provided for consumers”; and following the initial six-months “ongoing focused support” will be provided “for vulnerable industries”.

We’re told that further details on how this will work will be published shortly.

Tamar Energy Community, the Tavistock Times, West Devon Borough Council and Citizens Advice are cooperating to bring you weekly articles on the cost-of-living crisis.

Our autumn energy advice and retrofit programme

By Kate Royston

Are you interested in energy saving and improving the energy efficiency of your home or business?

Come along to one of our events and have a chat …

You may be thinking about options for saving energy and improving the energy efficiency of your home (retrofitting), but not sure where to start.

Here at Tamar Energy Community we’d like to see what we can do to help. We’ve arranged a number of events to meet you and have a chat, with information stands to browse.

We’re kicking off in Great Big Green Week with an information display in Tavistock Library, available from Sat. 24th September through to Sat. 1st October. You can also find us on the 24th Sept at Tavistock Farmers Market (tbc) and the Okehampton Coffee Morning.

We’re going online on Fri. 30th Sep (19:00) with a discussion about retrofitting your home (or business) in practice. You can book via Eventbrite. Here’s the link: https://Retrofitting-Your-Home-In-Practice-Sep22.eventbrite.co.uk

Our first Energy and Retrofit Fair in Okehampton will be at the Ockment Centre on Sat. 22nd October (10:00-14:00). You can find out more here: https://tamarenergycommunity.com/okehampton-retrofit-and-energy-fair-2022/ ; and our annual Tamar Energy Fest will be at Butchers’ Hall in Tavistock on Sat. 12th November (10:00-15:00). You can find out more here: https://tamarenergycommunity.com/tamar-energy-fest-2022/

Do come along!

If you would like to host our information display in a community space local to you, get in touch and we’ll see what we can arrange. Email hello@tamarenergycommunity.com.

Preparing for 1st April energy price increase

By Kate Royston

The energy price increases are affecting all of us and are having the greatest impact on those for whom energy costs form a greater proportion of their income.

As the 1st April 2022 approaches, and the new prices kick in, there are a couple of things to consider:

Not on a smart meter? Have you given your energy supplier an actual meter reading recently? If not, make sure you send them a meter reading on or before the 31st March. This will ensure that any usage is charged at the old rate. Otherwise you may end up paying more.

On a ‘non-smart’ pre-payment meter? The rates on your meter shouldn’t increase until you add more credit. This means that if you add additional money on to your meter on or before 31st March 2022 this will charge your use at the old rate until you top up again. Remember that the units will be ‘re-priced’ on your meter when you top up after 1st April, even if you still have credit.

We understand that this won’t work if your supplier is Scottish Power.

Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert website explains this well. You can find the link here.

Concerned about ability to pay? If you’re concerned about how you’re going to be able to pay your energy bills, or if you’ve built up a debt, its really important to contact your energy supplier, let them know, and ask them to work with you to find an affordable solution. The energy companies are obliged, under Ofgem regulations, to take affordability into account.

Reducing your energy usage. For those of us in a position where we could use less, this is worth considering. The amount of energy consumed, particularly during peak periods, puts pressure on energy supply and on the prices. This is particularly true in the period between 16:00 and 20:00 each day. Try less energy intensive methods of cooking food such as microwaves (reduced cooking times) and slow cooking (much lower power use over a longer period).

If you’re interested in understanding how to use a slow cooker get in touch. We’re working with Learn Devon to put on more courses.

If you are struggling, and need help with your energy management, do call or email us at Tamar Energy Community (TEC) on 0800-233-5414 or hello@tamarenergycommunity.com. We also have an online request form here: https://tamarenergycommunity.com/request-support/

‘One Pot Wonder’ Slow Cooker Course available – save money on your cooking

By Kate Royston

Save energy and money through using a slow cooker.

Sign up to Learn Devon’s ‘One Pot Wonder’ slow cooker course. Learn more about cooking nutritious meals for the family with the provision of a free slow cooker for each family who attends a course.

The first course starts on Monday 14th March at Alexandra Centre, Tavistock from 11:30 to 13:30 with the second and final session on Monday 21st March at the same time and place. Book by Weds. 9th March 2022, to secure your place.

The other sessions and locations are as follows:

Bere Alston at the Parish Hall 13.30 – 15.15 on Friday 18 March and Friday 25 March 

Princetown at the Community Centre 13.30 – 15.15 on Thursday 24 March and Thursday 31 March

Tavistock at the Alexander Centre 11.30 – 13.30 on Monday 4 April and Monday 11 April

Lifton at the Community Hall 11.30 – 13.30 on Tuesday 12 July and Tuesday 19 July.

To secure your place please contact Learn Devon at 01822 613701, text 0781 697 3926 or email tavistock@learndevon.co.uk.

Please let others know who may be interested.


Join us as a Home Energy Advisor in our Energy Advice Team

Join us as a Home Energy Advisor in our Energy Advice Team

By Kate Royston

Hourly rate £15 –  Flexible working  –  1 year fixed term contract (Self Employed)  

We’re looking for a Home Energy Advisor to join our Energy Advice Team.

Looking for a new role?

Why not help to deliver grass roots action on the journey to Net Zero in West Devon, reduce fuel poverty and address the climate emergency.

Interested? Apply by Sun. March 20th 2022.

Read on here …

Free Home Energy Advice

If you, or someone you know, would like some support to help reduce their energy bills or make their home more energy efficient, please click on this link to fill in our referral form.

One of our Home Energy Advisors will get in touch with you as soon as possible.

Tamar Energy Fest 2021 on Sat. Nov 13th

Tamar Energy Fest 2021 on Sat. Nov 13th

By Kate Royston

This year’s Tamar Energy Fest will be held on Saturday Nov. 13th in Butchers’ Hall, Tavistock.

The event is on the last day of the COP26 climate conference, so we feel its apt to embrace its theme of ‘Together for Our Planet’.

Find out more here.

If you’d like to get involved we’d love to hear from you.

We’re keen to hear from exhibitors able to share advice and support to for our journey’s towards low/zero carbon healthy homes, businesses etc. and/or support low/zero carbon lives.

We’d also love to hear from you if you’d like to help us organise and run the event and/or work with us in other ways.

You can download a Booking Form here as a word doc or here as a pdf.

If you have any questions or you’re able to get involved please email hello@tamarenergycommunity.com. 

Retrofitting your Home. What’s it all about?

Retrofitting your Home. What’s it all about?

By Kate Royston

We’re being encouraged to improve the energy efficiency of our homes. What does this mean for me in practice?

We held a Zoom talk in late September to discuss the topic and to learn more about the practicalities of retrofitting your home, and the importance of taking a whole house approach.

You can download the presentation here.

We’re working with Devon County Council and our Community Energy colleagues across Devon to launch a Retrofit Service for Devon in spring 2022. This will provide a ‘one front door’ approach for retrofit advice and support.

If you’d like to know more, please drop us an email to hello@tamarenergycommunity.com.

It would also be helpful if you could take a few minutes to complete this Retrofit Devon householder survey to help us understand more about about what the levels of interest in retrofit across the county. You can find it here: Retrofit Devon householder survey (typeform.com).

Vacancy: Home Energy Advisor Roles at TEC

Vacancy: Home Energy Advisor Roles at TEC

By Kate Royston

Looking for a new and exciting role, that not only helps local residents with energy efficiency issues but also tackles climate change at grass roots?

Community energy groups across Devon are expanding their domestic energy efficiency and retrofit services. Read on to learn more about flexible work opportunities.

The Role

Due to the success of home energy projects across Devon, and an increasing awareness around climate change and energy efficiency, community energy groups in Devon, including TEC, are seeking additional Home Energy Advisors (HEAs) to work on various existing and new projects. Immediate start date.

HEAs are required to provide tailored advice and support on a 1:1 basis, helping residents to cut costs and energy consumption and help make homes warmer. Work is carried out via telephone assessments and Home Energy Visits. Participation at drop-in energy advice clinics in the community, talks to community groups, training sessions with frontline workers and partnership building with key local organisations are other activities that make up this role.

This is a paid self-employed role with hours to suit the successful applicant’s needs and availability.

HEA’s play an important role in the overall aims and objectives of Devon’s Community Energy Groups, working as part of an innovative team, directly helping to improve the lives of those living in our local community, as well as promoting a low-carbon life style.

There will be opportunities to progress to ‘Retrofit’ roles for those interested in developing a long-term career in this industry.

The skills and requirements:

  • IT literate and own laptop or tablet
  • Have own vehicle/access to vehicle for carrying out visits
  • A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required.
  • Enthusiasm, dedication to problem solving, and ability to build rapport with residents and colleagues in the community
  • A team player, able to work on own initiative with limited supervision
  • Have previous experience of working with the public
  • A caring and understanding approach and ability to show empathy
  • Excellent written and oral skills
  • Experience is preferred, but not essential, as training can be provided to the right candidate. A willingness to study and take a few exams would be required.

Full Role Specification is available on request. Download a pdf with this description here.

Tamar Energy Community (TEC) is a non-profit community energy organisation. We work across West Devon and S. East Cornwall. We’re an active member of the network of community energy groups in Devon, working closely with local authorities.

If you, or anyone you know, would like to know more about this opportunity, please contact Kate Royston, Director at TEC and Project Manager Warm & Well. kate@tamarenergycommunity.com. 0800 233 5414.

If you are interested in HEA positions elsewhere in Devon check out Devon Community Energy Network’s page here for vacancies.