Getting help with your energy bills

As a council we are committed to helping our residents reduce their fuel bills and keep warm and well.

With more time being spent at home, during the current coronavirus pandemic, we recognise that bills are likely to be higher.

Fuel poverty affects the most vulnerable residents in our communities and can have adverse impacts on their well-being; especially for young children, those with reduced mobility, over 65 or, with a health condition.

There are a number of schemes now available to Birmingham residents to remedy this, from free installation of central heating, switching energy supplier, support with fuel debts, energy saving measures, energy efficient appliances and more.

Available schemes

LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) can provide help and advice with energy switching, free energy saving measures, money advice and check if you’re eligible for insulation, a new appliance or even a new boiler. Please call LEAP on 0800 060 7567 or apply for leap online.

ECHO (Emergency Central Heating Offer) is a scheme that offers emergency assistance to fuel poor or vulnerable households (owner occupiers only) to repair or replace broken or condemned boilers.

HEART is an initiative to support fuel poor and vulnerable households through the replacement of old, inefficient fridges, fridge/freezers, washing machines and electric cookers with modern, efficient alternatives.

ECO FLEX (Energy Company Obligation Flexible Eligibility) is a government scheme which provides funding for energy efficiency improvements in the home such as a new central heating system, upgrades to the existing heating system and/or insulation.

For enquiries about Eco Flex please contact AgilityEco at birminghamsoi@agilityeco.co.uk 

Energy Company Obligation (ECO) requires energy suppliers to set aside a fund to install energy saving measures. These help households cut their energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

Primarily aimed at owner occupiers and private rented tenure households, the scheme may support those who are not eligible for some of the other means-tested schemes but are vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold home.

Councils can set the eligibility criteria for which households are supported by the scheme and must publish a statement of intent that outlines these criteria.

Birmingham’s criteria can be found in our Statement of Intent.

Download the Birmingham City Council's Statement of Intent

Money Saving Boiler Challenge will save you money and energy by changing a single setting on your boiler. Many UK combi boilers burn more gas, generate more carbon emissions and cost more in energy bills than they need to. Research shows that by adjusting the boiler flow temperature to 60 degrees or below, households will save money off their bill and an average of 172kg in carbon emissions.

How to reduce your energy bills 

• Switch your light bulbs to LED bulbs

• Turn lights off when they are not in use

• Turn appliances off and don’t leave them on standby or buy a standby saver or smart plug which allows you to turn all your appliances off standby in one go.

• Turn your thermostat down, expect to cut bills by around 4%, or about £100 a year on average for a typical home. The optimum temperature that’s recommended is 21°C,so anything from 18-22°C should do the trick.

• Only use your dishwasher or washing machine when full and wash clothes on a 30° setting

• Dry clothes outside or on a heated airer instead of using a tumble dryer which can cost around £200 a year to run

• When boiling water, use just the amount you need in the kettle or boil water in a saucepan with the lid on.

• Draught proof your home with clingfilm on the windows or draught excluders on your doors

• Bleed radiators and add a shelf above your radiator or tin foil behind it to improve heat distribution and move your furniture around so the heat is not blocked and it is away from cold external walls.

• Sit in a room where the sun is, this might mean sitting somewhere different in the morning to the afternoon to feel the benefit.

• Heat the human not the home. In other words, keep yourself warm by wearing thin layers, or use a hot water bottle before turning the heating on or up. It may be dangerous for older people, or those with asthma and other health conditions to do this, if in doubt, consult your GP and follow their advice.

• Other advice is available from Leap the Energy Saving Trust, Warmer Homes West Midlands, 

• Charity Excellence #SurviveAndThrive resource lists over 30 ideas to reduce your energy costs.

• You may be eligible to apply for a grant from British Gas Energy Trust.