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SSE offers customers help with winter fuel bills

23 Oct 2013
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SSE is urging any customers concerned about their energy bill this winter to give us a call to see what we can do to help them.

With lots of support on offer, including energy efficiency advice, benefit checks and financial help for the elderly and low income groups, customers are being encouraged to get in touch.

SSE’s Director of Customer Service Tony Keeling said: “We have a number of ways we can help all customers manage their energy use and save money. But not everyone knows what help they could receive and the benefits they are entitled to. That’s why we are encouraging customers to get in touch with us so we can find ways to help them.”

SSE can provide financial assistance with energy bills to customers though its Warm Home Discount scheme and the Priority Assistance Fund which benefits low income families, pensioners, the disabled and people in receipt of certain benefits.

The Warm Home Discount could save households £135 off their electricity bill and SSE intends to help over 300,000 eligible customers through this scheme this year. 

SSE’s Priority Assistance Fund will help around 3,500 vulnerable customers with support worth up to £900 depending on individual circumstances. 

SSE also works closely with a number of charitable organisations to provide help and advice. Its partnership with Social Enterprise Direct (a not for profit organisation) enables its customer service staff to refer low income customers for benefit entitlement checks in order for them to access additional income. According to the Department for Work and Pensions, up to 1.58 million pensioners aren’t claiming additional income they are entitled to.

Through this partnership, SSE was able to help its customers receive over £600K in assistance last year through benefits such as Pension Credit and Disability Living Allowance. 

Michelle Taylor, Head of Operations at Social Enterprise Direct added: “We are delighted to provide the benefit entitlement checks for SSE customers on low incomes.  The benefit entitlement check is free and we are able to inform a high percentage of customers referred to us that they have access to additional income.”

As well as financial assistance and benefit checks, around 4,000 customer service staff based across Scotland, England and Wales are on hand to provide further help, including a dedicated Careline service for vulnerable customers and energy efficiency advice. Annual Energy Reviews are also carried out with customers to help identify where savings can be made.

SSE’s Tony Keeling added:”As part of our Customer Service Guarantee our staff are dedicated to finding ways to help customers save money. We may find a cheaper way for customers to pay or suggest energy efficiency measures which can reduce energy use and help keep bills down.

“We can also investigate whether people are eligible for home insulation and boiler repairs or replacements as part of the government’s ECO scheme. Some customers are able to get these measures free of charge and they can help keep your home warmer for longer.”

SSE supplies electricity and gas under the supply brands Southern Electric in England, SWALEC in Wales and Scottish Hydro in Scotland. To find out about what help is available call us or visit the websites below:

Scottish Hydro customers: 0800 980 8754 / www.hydro.co.uk

SWALEC customers: 0800 980 9041 / www.swalec.co.uk

Southern Electric customers: 0800 980 8476 / www.southern-electric.co.uk

SSE customers: 0800 980 8831 / www.sse.co.uk

Atlantic customers: 0800 980 8437 / www.atlantic.co.uk