Baroness Verma, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, visited SSE to see how it's supporting Big Energy Saving Week.
The Baroness met staff providing help and advice to millions of customers, supporting them to take action and reduce their energy bills.
She toured the customer service centre at Penner Road in Havant and spoke to some of the 2,500 staff based there, to hear more about the help they provide to customers everyday.
The centre, which handles around 4 million calls per year, has a team dedicated to providing help and assistance for vulnerable customers which includes the Warm Home Discount scheme, SSE’s Priority Assistance Fund and benefit entitlement checks.
They also offer customers tariff checks to make sure they’re on one that suits their needs best, tailored payment plans, financial help and energy efficiency measures such as replacement boilers and insulation.
Baroness Verma said: "Energy Saving Week is really important because it allows people to save money and make their homes more efficient. Also finding out ways of being able to make sure that they are not actually overusing and wasting energy."
Annette Sloan, Priority Services Co-ordinator at SSE, said: “Today was a fantastic opportunity for the Baroness to visit one of our key UK customer service centres and speak directly to staff about the many ways we help customers, including assistance for vulnerable customers.
“It’s important we get the message out that support is available and Big Energy Saving Week, a campaign involving many organisations, helps do just that.”
Throughout Big Energy Saving Week, SSE energy experts have been out and about giving advice on the changes people can make to help make their homes warmer and lower their energy bills.
SSE’s 4,000-strong customer service staff located across England, Scotland and Wales, have also been on-hand to provide advice on what customers can do to make savings.
Customers having difficulty with payments or concerned about their fuel bills can contact us on 0800 072 7222.