Find out how to save energy bills at CAB event

Shetland Islands Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is helping local people get ready for winter by hosting a special free energy-saving event tomorrow (5^th November).

CAB advisers will be on hand at the CAB office in Market House, Lerwick, between 10am and 12noon, to offer benefit checks so people can find out if they are receiving all the income they are entitled to.

Advisers can also check whether energy customers are eligible for a discount from their supplier, for example if they are claiming certain benefits. They will also be able to help people check their current tariff and compare it with other suppliers.

Staff from Home Energy Scotland, Shetland Islands Council energy unit and Hjaltland Housing Association will also be on hand to help. People attending the event will be able to learn energy saving tips and find out about ways to make their home more energy efficient. Information will also be available about grants which can be available for folk who meet the criteria.

The event is part of Big Energy Saving Week (31^st October – 6^th November), a national campaign run by Citizens Advice Scotland, Home Energy Scotland and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). The campaign aims to help people to cut their energy costs and to make sure they are getting all the help they are entitled to.

MSP Tavish Scott is also supporting the event and will be present to speak to constituents about energy issues.

He said: “Recent government statistics indicate that 50 per cent of people living in rural areas of Scotland are living in fuel poverty, spending more than 10 per cent of their disposable income on energy for their home. Our unique energy set-up provides lots of opportunities but lots of challenges too, meaning energy costs are undeniably a major local issue.

“I encourage Shetlanders to attend this excellent event, which will feature representatives from a broad selection of agencies, in order to see how they can best cut their energy costs.””

Shetland CAB manager Karen Eunson said: “Big Energy Saving Week is a great opportunity to get expert advice on how you can make savings. We would like to invite as many people as possible to come along and find out more about the help that is available with energy costs.”