Wyre Forest Citizens Advice secures funding boost for advice services on smart meters

Wyre Forest Citizens Advice is here to help! We offer free, confidential, and impartial advice to assist Wyre Forest residents in overcoming their challenges. We're also the voice for our clients on issues that matter most.

In these tough economic times, with high energy costs, we have partnered with Smart Energy GB until December 2024 to engage with residents and provide valuable information about smart meters.

Over 60% of homes in Great Britain already have a smart meter, and you don’t need to be a tech wizard to use one. We understand that some people may have concerns about the installation and operation of smart meters, and we are here to help address those concerns.

It's vital for residents to be well-informed about their energy choices. Smart meters offer many benefits, such as an in-home display which shows people at a glance how much gas and electricity they are using and how much they are spending on energy each day, week and month. With energy prices still high, managing energy consumption and finding ways to save money have never been more important for households.

Additionally, smart meters automatically send gas and electricity readings directly to your energy supplier, so people shouldn’t have to check their meters anymore. This ensures more accurate bills based on actual energy usage, rather than estimates.

One local resident shared, “I wasn’t sure about getting a smart meter initially, but now that I have one, I can see when my energy use spikes and make adjustments. I have peace of mind knowing I won’t get any unexpected high bills.”

Our volunteers have been essential in ensuring residents understand the benefits of smart meters and helping our community during the cost-of-living crisis.

We're always looking for new volunteers from all backgrounds who can dedicate their time to assist those struggling with energy prices, rising household bills, debt, employment issues, benefits, and housing problems.

Last year, we supported over 5,000 people in the Wyre Forest district, addressing around 16,000 issues. We couldn't do this without our amazing team of volunteers. Join us and make a difference!

If anyone would like further information on smart meters or volunteering opportunities please contact Wyre Forest Citizens Advice by visiting: www.wyreforestcab.org.uk 

ringing 01562 60194 or emailing info@wyreforestcab.org.uk

Chief Officer: Carol Pratt

Tel: 01562 60194

• Citizens Advice consists of the national charity Citizens Advice, a network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales (including Wyre Forest Citizens Advice), the Citizens Advice consumer service, and the Witness Service.
• Wyre Forest Citizens Advice provides free, independent, impartial, and confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person.
• Citizens Advice helped 2.66 million people face to face, over the phone, by email and webchat in 2022-23. And we had 60.6 million visits to our website. For full service statistics see our monthly publication Advice trends.
• Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 16,000 trained volunteers, working at over 1,600 service outlets across England and Wales.

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the independent, non-profit, government-backed organisation that helps households and small businesses across Great Britain to understand how smart meters can benefit them, their families and the environment.

We do this by working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders including charities and voluntary organisations to reach people throughout the country, including those in vulnerable circumstances, who may otherwise miss out on the opportunity to get a smart meter.

Our campaign explains the impact that having a smart meter installed has, including helping the country to build a more reliable and affordable energy system, and how the accompanying in-home display can help you take control of your energy use and manage your household budget

Funded by Smart Energy GB

Charity registration number 1056390. Company limited by guarantee. Registered number 3205031 England.

Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority FRN: 617806.