COST OF LIVING: Scottish Government offers additional funding for energy advice in face of rising bills – agencies like Home Energy Scotland and Citizen’s Advice Scotland will share £1.2 million to help households and businesses get support

Immediate funding is being awarded to key energy advice organisations to make sure energy customers can access crucial support and advice to deal with rising energy bills and heating costs.

More than £1.2 million will be distributed to help key agencies, including Advice Direct Scotland, Home Energy Scotland and Citizen’s Advice Scotland, reach more people who need help.

News of the award comes ahead of Ofgem announcing its new energy price cap tomorrow which is expected to see average annual bills go up to as much as £3554, according to industry analysts – two-and-a-half times compared to October 2021.

It comes after the Scottish Energy Summit hosted by the First Minister on Tuesday, at which a series of further actions aimed at easing the energy price rises were agreed with energy companies and advice organisations.

The Scottish Government estimates that 906,000 or 36% of all households will be in fuel poverty in October 2022, based on an Ofgem price cap of £2,800 and taking into account previously announced government mitigations.

Background

In total £1.268 million will be distributed as follows:

• £220,000 to Advice Direct Scotland to fund new staff in its contact centres
• £50,000 to Advice Direct Scotland to create a user-friendly online digital experience
• £220,000 to Citizen’s Advice Scotland to enhance capacity in their local bureaus
• £280,000 to expand the Home Energy Scotland advice service
• £198,000 for Home Energy Scotland recruits who will provide training to staff
• £300,000 to enhance support for businesses through Business Energy Scotland

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