Releasing of government's plan to cut energy bills 'really positive', says West Midlands charity
The Government announced the launching of its £15 billion ’Warm Homes Plan’ earlier this week that aims to help millions of families benefit from solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation that can cut energy bills
A West Midlands energy advice charity has welcomed the government's warm homes plan which is aiming to tackle fuel poverty.
Announced on Tuesday (20 January), the scheme is to deliver £15 billion of public investment, upgrading up to 5 million homes which could save them hundreds on energy bills and looking to help lift up to a million families out of fuel poverty by 2030.
It will look to have targeted interventions for those on low incomes and upgrade homes through the likes of solar panels, batteries, heat pumps and insulation.
"We are so pleased that the plan has come out, it has been a little while in the waiting so we have been waiting a few months for it," said Rachel Jones, the chief executive of charity Act on Energy who work across the West Midlands.
"The fact it is now out is really positive and we really want to understand what that detail is, but it looks like there is some real positive support there for residents.
"It's looking like it is really going to address some of those fuel poverty issues that we particularly see across the region, so hopefully some really good strong support and its exciting but just a lot to unpick at the moment."
In the plans, the government also confirmed homeowners would be able to apply for government-backed, low and zero interest loans, which could allow low-income households and those in fuel poverty to receive support that would cover the full cost of having solar panels put on their rooftop, or insulation installed.
It also added it would bring in new rules to ensure landlords invest in upgrades to cut bills for renters and social tenants.