Scottish Hydro Energy Care Plus tariff

Hi everyone,

Is anyone who is with this company on a really low income/benefits etc?

Are you having trouble with monstrous bills?

Give them a call on 0800 912 0012 and discuss your problems and ask about the Energy Care Plus tariff, it is for anyone who is paying more than 10% of their income on fuel bills.

I just received an enormous bill at the weekend and it has knocked my legs from under me.

I became ill in April and have been on Stat. Sick Pay, housing and council Tax Benefits...and move on to Incapacity Benefits just before Christmas (lovely!!)...

So i called them yesterday to discuss how the blazes I'm going to manage to pay back what I owe (£596) the guy I spoke to was REALLY helpful and manged there and then to knock around £86 off my bill because Hydro price increases didn't come in to effect until 25th Aug "08 - the cheeky so and so's put the increase onto my entire 6 month bill!!

After much mathematical gymnastics on his part he also asked about my income and then passed me on to a delightful lady who dealt with the Energy Care Plus tariffs and problems paying.

She asked what benefits I'm on. How much my rent and council tax were and how much if anything was I contributing towards either of these (I get HB but still have to pay £30 per month towards my rent) also how much my Stat Sick Pay was.

Also asked about how my house was heated etc, whether I owned or rented.

I'm in a 1 year old Housing Assoc. house which was made out to be the way forward for Scottish social housing...energy efficient etc (yeah stick a solar panel on a roof and thats it!)
but it has under-floor heating as the only source of heat - apparently this is one of the most inefficient and expensive methods around (they were shocked that a housing assoc. would install it)

She then worked out how much energy I was using each month and how much it would cost.

If you spend more than 10% of your income you may qualify for this tariff (I was on almost 18%!!!!!)

Please contact them if you are having worries - it has taken a certain amount of weight off my mind and every little saving helps.

Hope someone finds this post helpful - sorry if it rambles on a bit.