Fuel poverty is a worry in hard times

My words in the Herald Express 31st October 2013

The South West Energy Centre

 

 

When our political leaders suggested the other day that we all shop around for the best energy prices I wanted to shout at the television screen. That may sound pathetic but that is exactly how I felt. Every year as the shadows lengthen the utility companies bump up the price of energy and we all shiver at the thought of yet another squeeze on the family budget. These are hard times and fuel poverty is a worry. It’s especially worrying for those who already struggle with crippling debt.

So what advice do we get from the House of Commons? Shop around for the best price! Great! Step number one is to make sense of the tariffs that they all punt. That is far from easy.  Comparison websites help as do numerous energy advisory folk wandering the streets, waiting to pounce once the call centre has caught another hapless shivering citizen. It’s all so confusing.

Of course getting your deal is a little like attempting to locate a pea as the thimbles move mercilessly around. Have you played that frustrating game? You do of course assume that there is actually a pea under one of the thimbles.  Hmm. It takes time and computer knowledge if that is how you plan to search for the best energy deal. It’s harder to do if you don’t have the required computer skills or indeed a computer. It must also be remembered that, despite the pressure to launch us all into cyberspace, many people still don’t own a computer and so shopping around for a better price online simply isn’t an option.

There are those who might argue that the essential utilities should not be in private ownership and looking at the huge profits combined with soaring energy bills you might raise an eyebrow. But they are privatised and political options for price control seem limited despite the rhetoric.  Oh yes we can all wear and extra jumper, heat only one room and limit the amount of light we use during the long dark hours but that doesn’t take away the pain of energy price increases on already staggering bills.

All this is not helped when we hear about the mis-selling of energy deals and doubtless a number of you reading this will have a certain empathy with that! So where do you get unbiased energy advice and information about avoiding fuel poverty? Well locally we now have a wonderful new facility just off the Brixham Road in Paignton called the South West Energy Centre. These folk have been tasked with helping us all to make the best of what is available in these troublesome times. If you are worried (why would you now not be worried!) about keeping warm, getting the best energy prices and avoiding fuel poverty then give them a ring on 01803 540 725 or if you have computer access look at www.southwestenergycentre.co.uk .

For those of you who follow my rambling rhetoric you will know that community cohesion is something that lights my fire. These long winter periods of darkness leave many folk alone and isolated. How well do you know your neighbours? Think about those who might be living alone and vulnerable. As we push more and more onto the Internet the daily meeting points, like the local Post Office, have disappeared. Even regular trips to local shops seem to be slipping into history. It therefore means that more and more of us communicate via social media whilst waiting for the knock on the door as the supermarket delivery van arrives.

Think for a moment about those outside of that world. Think about older people living alone who might not see anyone for days and have no one to have a conversation with. As the days become colder the worry about heating might cause anxiety. Cold can kill as can solitude, loneliness and isolation.

Thinking about solitude in our lives it is interesting to reflect upon the seeking of a quiet place by design and the sadness finding yourself thrust unexpectedly into a lonely place. They are very different, seeking solitude and being lonely, and in this age of amazing communication social isolation, or so it seems to me, is rapidly growing.

Please take the time to look around and look for the lonely and the vulnerable. Seek out those who might slip below the surface as the cold winter nights drag endlessly on. Often all that is immediately needed is a friendly smile and a cheery greeting. Don’t be frightened to engage with local councillors and members of Parliament. They are human and would love to hear from you! You have a voice and you have a vote. Use both for the good of all and to lift the spirit.

Keep the smile.