Residents urged to have a warmer, cheaper winter

Older people are being encouraged to apply for grants to make their homes more energy efficient in time for next winter.

John Parfitt, Monmouthshire County Council's Housing Renewals and Careline Manager, said:

"Older householders can forget the difficulty and cost of heating their homes during winter and with the recent warm weather we have experienced it is very easy to forget the cold and damp of winter, and the challenges of heating homes efficiently.

"We believe that now is the best time for vulnerable householders to prepare for winter 2010/11, by accessing the national Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) and making their homes warmer and healthier.

"With the warmer weather, there is traditionally a seasonal drop in referrals for such things as boiler replacement and home insulation grants. 

"We urge householders who may be eligible for HEES to apply for the scheme now, so that they will receive improvement works they are entitled to in time for winter.

"This is the final year of HEES, as the new Fuel Poverty Scheme will be introduced in 2011,  so householders are advised to check the current eligibility criteria for vulnerable householders at www.heeswales.co.uk  or contact HEES on  0800 316 2815."