'Smart' move to beat down bills (From York Press)

So he bought a gadget to tell him which appliances use the most energy ? Sounds a bit dumb wasting money to save money. Surely people have an idea that plugging an hairdryer in, is a lot less expensive than having the tumble dryer and dishwasher on 3 times a day,

And people who are really skint and go for the pre payment meters , they could if they wanted to, check this buy watching there money disappear while waiting for the dryer to finish.

Comman sense is turn things off if your struggling with bills ,dont leave things on standby etc,

oops pooh spelling *by and *common

Does York councillors bother to read the national government news obviously not.

nds.coi.gov.uk

Thursday 11 September 2008 10:27
Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (National)

Save money, save energy: Government takes action on family fuel bills


The Government today announced a £1 billion package, which will enable households to take advantage of help that could save them over £300 every year on their energy bills.

The Home Energy Saving Programme provides assistance to householders to make their homes more energy efficient, and for households most vulnerable to fuel poverty, including all pensioner households, gives help with their bills this winter through the winter fuel payments and lower energy company tariffs. In achieving this, the Government will comply with its legal obligation to engage with all interested parties.

The Government will propose legislation to require an estimated £910 million commitment from energy companies including, for the first time, electricity generating companies, to invest in making homes more energy efficient. This will be in addition to the existing obligation on companies to spend £2.8 billion over the next three years helping customers save energy. Together with the Government's own spending programmes, this will create a £6.5 billion programme of improvement to the nation's housing stock - the largest since the introduction of North Sea gas. The Government's aim is the insulation of all Britain's homes, where practical, by 2020.

Around £560 million of this £910 million will add to the existing energy efficiency programme CERT (Carbon Emissions Reduction Target) - which funds subsidised improvements such as loft and cavity wall insulation. Eleven million elderly and low income households qualify for these measures at no cost. This extra funding could benefit up to two million households.

The remaining £350 million of the £910 million from energy suppliers and electricity generators will go towards a new Community Energy Saving Programme. Throughout the country, local councils, voluntary organisations and energy companies will carry out house-to-house calls to offer help in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. This could result in as many as 100 schemes across the country.

To make sure people get the most help the Government is launching a nationwide advertising campaign informing people about the support available. To further help them save money it will also encourage people to compare suppliers to get the best energy deals, use direct debit, and take advantage of money off deals on energy efficient products. Adverts will appear in national newspapers tomorrow, followed by television adverts later this month. For advice on help available ring the helpline 0800 512 012.


Tuesday 26 August 2008 13:19
Department for Work And Pensions (National)

Over 60s - don't miss out on extra cash


Older people are being urged to claim Pension Credit today while they may still be able to benefit from up to a year's backdated lump sum.

Many over 60s are still not claiming benefits they may be entitled to and are missing out on additional help.

Pensions Minister Mike O'Brien said that many older people mistakenly think that owning their own home or having some savings automatically rules them out from getting any Pension Credit to top up their income.

In fact around 2.7million pensioner households are receiving on average around £50 in Pension Credit every week. Pension Credit ensures that no pensioner aged 60 or over need live on less than £124.05 a week - resulting in extra money for many over-60s.

The Government is working in partnership with Age Concern, Help the Aged and local councils to encourage more people to claim.

Does York councillors bother to read the national government news obviously not.

No chance - they're too busy trying to think up new ways of getting themselves in the paper, or finding photo-opportunities for the pointless waste of paper Local Council Info (propaganda) leaflet that gets posted to residents.

O'Yay O'Yay

Free insulation from energy companies

Free cavity wall and/or loft insulation is available to homeowners and private tenants over 70, or in receipt of one of the following qualifying benefits or tax credits. Any member of the household can be over 70 or in receipt of the benefit and you don’t even need to be an Energy Company customer to apply.

Income support.
Housing benefit.
Council tax benefit (not including single occupancy reduction).
Income-based jobseeker’s allowance.
Attendance allowance.
Disability living allowance.
War disablement pension (which must include mobility supplement or constant attendance allowance).
Disablement pension credit (which must include constant attendance allowance).
Child tax credit (with a household income of less than £15,592).
Working tax credit (with a household income of less than £15,592).
State pension credit.
If you are over 70 years old.

Presiding over a boundary dispute between Coun Christian Vassie of York's Liberal Democrat Party and his neighbour in August 2007, the judge described Mr. Vassie as "unpleasant" and "patronising." He also said Mr. Vassie deliberately "dragged his feet" during legal correspondence in order to drive up costs and force his neighbour cave in. York County Court, case no. 5YO04487.

I wonder how he saved the £200, Erm lets have a think, did he hang the washing outside to dry? Handwash the pots? set washer to a lower temp or faster cycle? wash clothes less often? go round and turn lights off ?,switch to energy saving bulbs?,
come on if your reading , give us a clue, did you turn the leccy fire off instead of opening the windows when it got a bit warm :-), eat out more saving elec from cooker and dishwasher?

Soothsayer917 wrote:
Presiding over a boundary dispute between Coun Christian Vassie of York's Liberal Democrat Party and his neighbour in August 2007, the judge described Mr. Vassie as "unpleasant" and "patronising." He also said Mr. Vassie deliberately "dragged his feet" during legal correspondence in order to drive up costs and force his neighbour cave in. York County Court, case no. 5YO04487.

He's probably tapped into his neighbours supply :-)

Vassie your to late having been beaten to the post already. You had better get your rain coat ready for the house to house calls you have to make in the name of the national government as below in the second paragraph.

"If at least one of the major opposition parties backs Coun Vassie, the council’s chief executive, Bill McCarthy, will write to the Government requesting a range of actions, including a national home insulation programme, to help lift people out of poverty. Coun Vassie also wants council officers to look into setting up a scheme whereby smart-meters could be borrowed from the city’s libraries."


"The remaining £350 million of the £910 million from energy suppliers and electricity generators will go towards a new Community Energy Saving Programme. Throughout the country, local councils, voluntary organisations and energy companies will carry out house-to-house calls to offer help in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. This could result in as many as 100 schemes across the country."

Soothsayer917 wrote:
Presiding over a boundary dispute between Coun Christian Vassie of York's Liberal Democrat Party and his neighbour in August 2007, the judge described Mr. Vassie as How ironic! We are supposed to be getting lessons on how to save Money from a man who deliberately tries to drive up costs.

Can we add to that:

1) support for a TV screen with nothing to show on it

2) The money spent on the Barbican centre with nothing to show for it

3) A wind turbine that will will run at less then a third capacity

Could the council have found somebody with a worse track record to push this scheme