Northern Gas Networks (NGN) has made over 600 referrals for financial support to pay for heating in 2023 to date, while providing essential equipment to help people stay warm at home.
To support National Energy Action’s Fuel Poverty Awareness Day (FPAD), NGN is raising awareness of support available to customers in vulnerable situations facing fuel poverty this winter.
Did you know that you could be eligible for a referral to the Fuel Bank Foundation where you could receive emergency financial support and advice to help improve your financial situation in the longer term?
NGN and other Gas distribution networks committed to providing Fuel Bank Foundation with £500,000 fund over two years to support households in a fuel crisis back in 2021.
Working together NGN and Fuel Bank Foundation identify those households who most need help, providing same day emergency financial support to people struggling to top-up their prepayment gas and/or electricity meters. Fuel Bank Foundation also provides additional ongoing support to help manage energy costs, working together to support families out of crisis.
From January 2023, until now, NGN has, so far referred over 600 people across its network to Fuel Bank Foundation for financial help.
NGN encourages customers who find themselves in fuel poverty to speak to its engineers if they are working in their homes or contact the Fuel Bank Foundation directly to find out more information.
Eileen Brown, Customer Service Director at NGN said:
“Fuel Poverty Awareness Day is a timely reminder that millions of households across the UK struggle to stay warm and well at home in winter.
“With cost-of-living challenges ongoing, more households than ever are entering the colder months with a sense of stress and anxiety about how afford to keep warm.
“According to statistics provided by Fuel Bank Foundation, 96% of people they’ve supported were having to choose between heating and eating and 14% were sacrificing hot food on a daily basis.”
When NGN engineers visit homes, in addition to dealing with gas or Carbon Monoxide issues, they can offer, free of charge, to customers in most need useful equipment to help keep them warm, including:
- Electric Heated Under Blanket
- Heated Seat Cover
- Hot Water bottle
- Radiator Oil Filled Portable
- Slow Cooker
- Thermal Flask
- Water Resistant Heated jacket
- Winter Warmer Pack
Over the last 12 months NGN engineers have been able to offer around 2000 pieces of equipment to customers.
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Fuel Poverty Awareness Day
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day is a national campaign event organised by the UK’s foremost fuel poverty charity, National Energy Action (NEA). NEA work to overcome the effects and causes of fuel poverty in four ways. We provide advice and support; we campaign and advocate for the needs of fuel-poor households; we carry out research to raise awareness and find solutions; and we provide accredited training. For more information visit: https://brnw.ch/21wERwZ
About Northern Gas Networks
Since we started operating in 2005, we’ve been leading the way as one of the most cost-efficient of the UK’s eight gas distribution networks. We deliver great value for money to our customers, as well as a whole host of social and economic benefits to our region.
We’re recognised as a dynamic, passionate, conscious and people focused team that safely and reliably delivers gas to over 2.7 million homes and businesses across the North East, northern Cumbria and much of Yorkshire.
Although we don’t source the gas, fix boilers and appliances, or get involved with plumbing, we work with those that do to deliver it through a vast network of underground pipes that are constantly being invested in and upgraded.
It’s more complicated than it sounds so we’re always exploring cutting-edge thinking, revolutionary engineering practices and world-class science to find new ways to provide sustainable sources of energy.
And while our customers may not see us very often, they can sleep soundly knowing that we’re working around the clock to keep them connected and make sure they stay safe.
For more information visit northerngasnetworks.co.uk. Alternatively, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Get in touch
You can contact Northern Gas Networks’ press office on: 0113 322 7950 during office hours (between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays) or call the out of hours service on 0113 322 7978 at any other time.
