£1m Natural Gas Scheme To Tackle Fuel Poverty

Antrim-based gas supplier firmus energy has launched a scheme encouraging residents to switch to natural gas and improve the energy efficiency of their home.

The Home Comfort 50/50 scheme offers eligible households a range of benefits including half the cost of a natural gas installation, a remote smart thermostat, fully funded insulation measures and free LED lightbulbs.

Homeowners and private renters will be empowered through a range of grants to take control of their heating system by heating only the water that is used.

The initiative is a partnership between firmus energy and the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programme in a bid to tackle fuel poverty. A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on energy costs, so improving household energy efficiency is one of the easiest and quickest ways to correct the issue.

Fuel poverty has grown through a combination of the climate situation, lower incomes, higher fuel prices and a high dependence on oil. Around 68% of households use oil and this rises to over 80% of households in rural areas. This over-dependence on one unregulated fuel means fuel poverty is particularly acute in the firmus energy gas network area where households have only had the opportunity to switch to natural gas in recent years.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, councillor Charlie Casey recently met with firmus energy to hear about the benefits to be gained from the Home Comfort 50/50 scheme.

Cllr Casey encouraged eligible local residents to apply and make use of the financial help available for switching their homes to gas. He commented: "Natural gas offers a cleaner, more efficient and responsive home heating system in comparison to oil. The added insulation package will allow families to save even more which will help to lower household bills."

Angeline Murphy, Marketing Manager for firmus energy, added: "We understand that many families and individuals are under financial pressure and we are delighted to be able to offer a range of Home Comfort grants to help reduce the level of fuel poverty within the firmus energy network area. We have a range of grants available to owner occupiers and private renting tenants to convert their homes from various fuel sources including coal, tanked gas, Economy 7, oil or even homes without a heating system.

"It may seem odd to be talking about fuel poverty just after the longest day of the year, but now is the time to get your home energy efficiency right and our energy advisors are able to provide expert advice."

Visit the firmus energy website to check if you are eligible.



(JG/CM)