Smart meters are the next generation of energy meters. They are replacing traditional meters across Great Britain.
Energy suppliers have to provide smart meters to all their customers at no extra charge. Most homes have two meters, one for gas and one for electricity.
Millions of homes already have smart meters as part of an essential upgrade to our national energy system.
Benefits of smart meters
- Smart meters bring an end to estimated bills and manual meter reads. They automatically send readings to your energy supplier
- You can have an In-Home Display. This shows you almost real-time information about your energy use in pounds and pence
- Pre-payment customers with smart meters can top up their credit from home
- Smart meters tackle climate change and cut costs by allowing us to use more renewable energy
How can I get smart meters?
Get in touch with your energy supplier to discuss having a smart meter installed.
For more information on how to request an installation, visit Smart Energy GB.
Smart Energy GB is a not-for-profit government-backed campaign. It helps people understand the importance and benefits of smart meters.
For further advice on smart meters visit:
- Gov.uk: Smart meters: a guide for households
- Ofgem: Government energy regulator providing advice for households
- Energy Saving Trust: Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation giving advice on energy efficiency and clean energy solutions.
By switching your energy supplier, you may be able to save money and reduce your bills.
Ofgem is the Government energy regulator. Their website provides advice on how to switch energy tariffs or suppliers.
Here is a list of Ofgem-accredited price comparison websites:
- Energy Helpline
- Energylinx
- The Energy Shop
- Money Supermarket
- My Utility Genius
- Simply Switch
- Switch Gas and Electric
- Quotezone
- Unravel It
- Uswitch
These websites meet Ofgem’s code of practice and will carry Ofgem’s hallmark for The Confidence Code.
Contact Ofgem if you can’t resolve an issue with an energy supplier or an accredited comparison website.
You can find more advice at Energy Saving Trust. They offer independent advice and support both online and via advice centres.
Ofgem
Ofgem is the Government energy regulator providing energy advice for households.
Simple Energy Advice
Simple Energy Advice is a Government endorsed organisation. They provide impartial and independent advice to help you reduce your energy bills and make your homes warmer.
Their energy grants calculator offers personalised energy efficiency advice based on your postcode. It also gives relevant information such as available grants.
You can contact Simple Energy Advice on the freephone helpline 0800 444202.
Open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday to Sunday 9am to 5pm.
Energy Saving Trust
Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation. They provide advice and support on ways to reduce home heat loss.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice offer independent, impartial advice for free on a range of subjects including energy and consumer rights.
- Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills
- Switch energy supplier
- Save money on your gas and electricity
- What to do if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills
- Getting extra support from your energy supplier
- Make sure your home is energy efficient
Act on Energy
Act on Energy provide householders and small business with free energy support and impartial advice.
Warmer Homes West Midlands
Warmer Homes West Midlands offer impartial and free to use. Working with households struggling with heating costs. They can help save you money on your household energy bills and reduce your energy use.
Age UK
Age UK offers free energy efficiency advice for the over 60’s. Including energy-saving tips, smart meters and help with heating costs.
For more information visit Age UK or call the advice line on 0800 678 1602, open 8am to 7pm, every day of the year.
Scope
Scope is a disability equality charity. They offer free energy and water advice to disabled people to help manage energy and water needs.
Give your home an energy MOT
The Government's online advice service provides homeowners with recommendations that could help save them hundreds of pounds a year on bills.
To find out more visit: GOV.UK | Improve Energy Efficiency
You can make a complaint to your energy supplier by email, letter or telephone.
Your energy supplier must have a complaint process. It must be clearly set out to customers. It should be accessible on your energy suppliers’ websites.
You can find energy suppliers' contact details on a recent energy bill.
If you aren’t sure about your current supply details see Ofgem’s: Finding your energy supplier.
Ofgem provides a step-by-step guide on making a complaint and about the help you can get.
Citizens Advice offers independent, impartial advice on consumer rights for free. This includes advice on energy complaints. Contact Citizens Advice by visiting their Consumer Helpline or calling 0808 223 1133.
Energy Ombudsman resolves disputes between consumers and companies. The service is free, impartial and simple to use.
You should complain to the Energy Ombudsman if:
- eight weeks have passed, and you still aren’t happy with your energy supplier’s response.
- when you hit a ‘deadlock’. This is when neither of you can reach an agreement.
Energy companies should write to you about how to do this at eight weeks or when you hit a deadlock. You can refer a case to the ombudsman within 12 months of a deadlock letter.
The Ombudsman can make a company correct a problem, apologise, and explain what happened. They can also make a company pay compensation. Its decisions are binding on the energy company.
City of Wolverhampton Council is delivering a scheme to help homeowners reduce their energy. This will allow homeowners to receive fully-funded energy upgrades. To find out more and check if you are eligible visit our Home Upgrade Grant webpage.
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off discount of £140 off your winter electricity bill.
The discount will not affect any other payments you receive.
There are 2 ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
The Core Group
- Your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- Yours or your partner’s name is on the bill
- You claim the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit
The Broader Group
- Your energy supplier is part of the scheme
- You’re on a low income
- You get certain means-tested benefits
The exact rules for the broader group vary from supplier to supplier.
You can contact your energy supplier to see if you are eligible. Check with your supplier as early as possible. There are a limited number of discounts a supplier can give.
For more information visit: Gov.uk
You could receive a payment of £25 if the average temperature in your area drops below zero for seven days in a row.
You may be eligible if you claim certain means-tested benefits.
You may get Cold Weather Payments if any of the following apply:
For more information and to check eligibility visit: Gov.uk
The Winter Fuel Payment is a payment of between £100 and £300 to help towards your winter heating bills.
Eligibility
If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 and you get:
- the State Pension
- another social security benefit
You can find out more by visiting Gov.uk
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a government scheme. It provides grants to encourage property owners to install low-carbon heating systems.
These grants can overcome the upfront cost of low carbon heating technologies.
The scheme is open to domestic and small non-domestic properties in England and Wales. It runs from 2022 to 2025. Grants available include:
- £5,000 off the cost and installation of an air source heat pump
- £5,000 off the cost and installation of a biomass boiler
- £6,000 off the cost and installation of a ground source heat pump
For more information and check eligibility please visit Gov.uk
The Energy Bills Support Scheme is a Government scheme.
Eligible homes will receive a £440 discount to help with energy bills from October. You won't have to pay this back.
To find out more visit: GOV.UK
Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme. It aims to reduce heating costs for low-income, fuel-poor and vulnerable people.
GBIS is a new government scheme to help people insulate their homes, make them more energy efficient and save money on their energy bills. The scheme is intended to run until March 2026.
You can find more information by visiting our website: Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
Energy Performance Certificates tell you how energy efficient a building is and give it a rating from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient).
They’ll tell you how costly it will be to heat and light your property, and what its carbon dioxide emissions are likely to be.
An EPC also includes information on what the energy efficiency rating could be if you made the recommended improvements and highlights cost effective ways to achieve a better rating.
You must have an EPC when you’re:
- selling a property
- renting out a property
- building a new property
You do not need an EPC for:
- temporary buildings that will be used for less than 2 years
- stand-alone buildings with total useful floor space of less than 50 square metres
- industrial sites, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings that do not use a lot of energy
- some buildings that are due to be demolished
- holiday accommodation that’s rented out for less than 4 months a year or is let under a licence to occupy
- listed buildings - you should get advice from your local authority conservation officer if the work would alter the building’s character
- residential buildings intended to be used less than 4 months a year
- places of worship
To read more about EPCs please visit Energy Performance Certificates explained
To view or request a new EPC please visit:
Wolverhampton Homes Tenants can access support and advice on their Money and energy webpage.
You could also call 01902 556789.
Depending on your circumstances you could be due a reduction on your council tax bill.
To find out more visit: Ways to reduce your council tax bill
The Household Support Fund was created to help those in need. You can use the funding for a variety of reasons including support with fuel/energy.
Go to our Household Support Fund webpage to find out more.
Increases in the cost of living will affect many households in Wolverhampton. This includes the cost of food, fuel and utilities.
Our Cost of living help page can show you where and how to find support
To find out more: GOV.UK
Useful charities and organisations:
LEAP
LEAP aims to support as many people as possible who are at risk of/or falling into fuel poverty. The best way to start is to arrange an advice appointment with one of our energy advisors.
Better Housing, Better Health
Better Housing Better Health is here to help keep residents warm and well at home and improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Household Support Fund
City of Wolverhampton has a Household support fund to help those in need.
Severn Trent Trust Fund
To access this free support, you must live in a property that is supplied by Severn Trent Water.