Residents get help with fuel bills

Residents in Swansea are set to benefit from a £70m share of funding to help cut energy use and lower fuel bills in homes across the UK.

Swansea Council has signed an agreement with British Gas as part of the energy supplier's Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) and Swansea has been selected as one of ten areas in the UK to benefit from the scheme during the first phase.

In total, 90,000 homes in the UK are set to benefit over a three-year period.

The energy-saving programme is specifically targeting communities with families on low income and the Council is now working with British Gas to identify areas in Swansea which will be included.

Wall and loft insulation, draught proofing and boiler replacement could be carried out in Swansea homes in a bid to lower fuel bills and drive down the amount of CO2 emissions generated in the city.

On average, the work could save householders an average of £365 a year on their fuel bills.

Peter May, Cabinet Member for Housing in Swansea Council, said: "This is great news for Swansea. Many householders on low income will already be experiencing difficulties paying their annual heating bills.

"This partnership with British Gas means we can look at ways to reduce these bills and raise the standard of living for Swansea residents."

Phil Bentley, Managing Director of British Gas, said: "Households account for a quarter of the UK's total CO2 emissions. By focusing on homes and in particular vulnerable communities which have been traditionally hard to reach, we can make a significant impact on our national carbon footprint and cut the bills of Britain's most hard-pressed families.

"As the country's biggest energy supplier we are well-placed to take the lead in helping people become more energy efficient. This is why we're very pleased to be the first energy supplier to begin CESP projects."