Dr Stephen Ladyman MP celebrates 3291 homes made warmer in South Thanet

Dr Stephen Ladyman MP is celebrating the work of the Warm Front Scheme in tackling fuel poverty in South Thanet and is urging more local residents to come forward and get help with measures that could cut their energy bills by anything up to £600 a year.

Dr Stephen Ladyman MP said: “Solutions which tackle climate change are vital, but they must also address social issues such as fuel poverty at the same time.

“The Warm Front scheme aims to help people with energy efficiency and is vital in helping increasing numbers of people who are finding energy bills a heavy burden.”

Warm Front works by providing contributions of up to £2,700 towards insulation and gas heating measures and £4,000 for oil for the elderly, disabled and low income families.

Green support services company eaga reported that during the period 1 June 2000 to 30 November 2008, there have been record take up figures with 3291 households in South Thanet having benefited from the scheme.

These households benefited from a range of energy efficiency measures including loft and cavity wall insulation, new heating systems and draught proofing.

To date £2,904,424.89 has been invested by Warm Front in the South Thanet. Many of those who have benefited from the Scheme are reporting average households savings of anything between £300 and £600 a year.

Rising fuel prices and the need to protect the environment from dangerous CO2 levels are making the work of Warm Front Scheme increasingly important.

As well as benefiting from energy efficiency measures, households contacting eaga are also receiving a free benefit entitlement and to date 119 homes in the South Thanet constituency have increased their average weekly income by £ 24.78.

To qualify for Warm Front residents must either own their own home or live in privately rented accommodation and should be in receipt of a qualifying benefit. To find out more about the Scheme and see if they qualify Dr Stephen Ladyman MP is urging households to contact Warm Front on 0800 316 6014.

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Note to editors
1. eaga plc is a green support services and outsourcing company. It is also the UK’s largest residential energy efficiency provider.
1. eaga was established in Newcastle in 1990 and operates across the UK and in the Republic of Ireland, India and Canada. It employs over 4,500 people.
2. eaga works in partnership with central and local Government, all six major energy suppliers, local authorities, social housing providers and is increasing its share of the able-to-pay private market.
3. Since its inception, eaga has made a positive difference to over 5 million disadvantaged households across the UK, by installing energy efficiency insulation and central heating.
4. eaga holds the contract to deliver the £1.5 billion Warm Front programme in England, the cornerstone of the government's target to eliminate fuel poverty.
5. eaga is committed to co-ownership and is one of only a handful of UK organisations where every employee with over a year’s service is entitled to a share in the success of the business.
6. Since 2000, eaga has invested over £3 million in the independent eaga Partnership Charitable Trust which funds research into solutions to fuel poverty.