We know many people, as well as their families, friends and neighbours, will be worried about keeping their homes warm this winter. Energy prices have gone up and if this winter is as cold as the last, energy bills will be higher.
But nobody should have to choose between heating and eating, or be forced to turn off their heating for fear of the bill that will follow.
From this Sunday 1 December through to end of February 2014, and longer if we suffer colder than normal weather, SSE will not cut off any customer’s energy supply. We will not leave anyone in the cold this winter.
That is a hugely significant commitment on our part. We recognise that heating our homes is a basic necessity of life that none of us can live without. We understand it’s not like broadband or satellite television where you do - and should – get cut off for not paying your bill. People need to stay warm,whatever their circumstances, and we will ensure that they do.
I don’t want anyone choosing to turn their heating off out of fear. My messsage to them is; firstly, keep yourself warm then secondly, give us a ring. Please don’t be worrying and putting yourself at risk. We genuinely will be there to help.
There are lots of things we can do, like insulating our customers’ homes so they don’t use more energy than they need to, or checking that a customer is getting all the support they are entitled to, like the £135-a-year Warm Home Discount.
And, if after all that has been done, a customer is still worried that they can’t afford their energy bill we will talk to them about payment terms they can afford. Our priority is keeping all of our customers warm this winter.
Every day during the winter months our customers service advisers speak to hundreds of people worried about their bills. We’ll do everything in our power to help them all.
We also work with the Home Heat Helpline which offers free and impartial advice to all energy customers.
The bigger problem is the customers who suffer in silence, who think they have no alternative but to turn off the heating. It is vitally important that we get the message through to these people that they should call us and let us see how we can help them.
Call us. And help us to help you.
Scottish Hydro customers: 0800 980 8754
SWALEC customers: 0800 980 9041
Southern Electric customers: 0800 980 8476
SSE customers: 0800 980 8831
Atlantic customers: 0800 980 8437