Free electric??? Temp

GT60

Hi ya 

I am with a client  and is struggling to pay for his energy and always runs out of electric a week before he gets paid

I have heard of a way you can get  free energy short term but can't remember where it was it seen it.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Robin9

If he has a prepayment meter then there is an emergency top up facility but its not free as he has to pay next time he tops up.



PS Requested MSE to move to Energy.

tim_p

Now might be a good time to do an audit of their energy usage. 

Robin9

tim_p said:

Now might be a good time to do an audit of their energy usage. 

Yes indeed -  are they perhaps using an electric immersion heater or a focal point fire/panel heater  when they have a gas boiler available ?

GT60

Thanks everyone
We have applied to the  council for help as he has just moved into his flat after 7 years street homeless
Thanks again 

GT60

Robin9 said:

tim_p said:

Now might be a good time to do an audit of their energy usage. 

Yes indeed -  are they perhaps using an electric immersion heater or a focal point fire/panel heater  when they have a gas boiler available ?

I didn't even think about an immersion heater or anything.
He only has electric in the flat.
Thanks again 😺

QrizB

GT60 said:

I didn't even think about an immersion heater or anything.
He only has electric in the flat.
Thanks again 😺

How much is he currently spending on electricity? As a very rough guess I'd expect someone in a one-bed all-electric flat to be spendig £50 a month or so (£20 standing charge plus £30 for 4kWh a day) in the summer when they aren't using any space heating. If he's using more than this, it's probably worth investigating further to find out where it's going.

Spoonie_Turtle

Definitely worth an energy audit, but in the short term there is a fuel bank, a bit like a food bank, that can provide emergency short-term help as well as advice on how to try to prevent running out.
https://www.fuelbankfoundation.org/partners/
https://www.fuelbankfoundation.org/3-things-that-make-a-difference/

As he is on a prepayment meter he also needs to be sure he's not paying off any debt from previous inhabitants; others here know more about that but one fairly good indicator is does he have his own, new key for the meter (if applicable) and has he set up his own account with the supplier upon moving in?

GT60

Thanks everyone for the great advice.
I will pass all this on.💖

FreeBear

QrizB said:

GT60 said:

I didn't even think about an immersion heater or anything.
He only has electric in the flat.
Thanks again 😺

How much is he currently spending on electricity? As a very rough guess I'd expect someone in a one-bed all-electric flat to be spendig £50 a month or so (£20 standing charge plus £30 for 4kWh a day) in the summer when they aren't using any space heating. If he's using more than this, it's probably worth investigating further to find out where it's going.

With a smart meter, it is worth enabling 30min readings and using the Bright app to see when usage peaks.

As part of the energy audit, replace any incandescent & CFL bulbs with LED ones. I'd suggest around 8W warm for a smallish room (3x3m), going up to 10W for a 4x4m room.