Moray Energy Action Project funded by the Energy Redress Scheme
Moray is one of the highest areas in Scotland for fuel poverty with around 45% of households experiencing high energy bills and hard to heat homes. This is defined when 10% of a household’s income goes on energy bills with extreme fuel poverty higher at 20%.
Fuel poverty indicators are low incomes, hard to heat homes, damp and mould issues and fuel debt. Households cut back on other life essentials, and self-ration their own heating. This can lead to, and exacerbate various physical and mental health problems, including respiratory and circulation conditions. People living in fuel poverty often heat only one room in their home or choose not to use their heating at all.
Moray Energy Action Project’s main objective is to help alleviate fuel poverty in Moray through a well-delivered energy advice project.
Our advisors provide in-depth advice over the phone, with face to face appointments or on home visits, to help manage the energy needs of our clients. Helping people who exist in fuel poverty status by providing financial advice in tackling energy debt, help for prepayment customers and by providing practical energy saving advice. We speak on behalf of our clients to address concerns and issues that have arisen to help households feel more in control of their energy bills.
Our “Warm and Well Kit” programme funded by the Energy Redress Scheme, helps provide extra dedicated support to help struggling residents to keep cosy throughout the Winter and the cost-of-living crisis.
In partnership with Moray Food bank and other community groups and organisations we will distribute 1,000 kits over two years, to help ease fuel poverty and provide essential items to keep warm over winter. Our kits contain a warm blanket, a pack of thermal socks, temperature card and an Energy Advice leaflet, all contained in a REAP canvas bag.
The Moray Energy Advice Project will run for 2 years till April 2025.
REAP are hopeful this project will empower the members of our community currently living in fuel poverty, by providing the skills and knowledge to reduce energy use and make their homes more energy efficient.