Meet the Team - Energy Champion
Every day, our dedicated Energy Team members support clients to save money on their energy bills. This could be by making their homes more energy efficient, switching suppliers, or checking eligibility for grants and discounts. We also partner with a number of energy organisations to reach people who need extra help when it comes to energy advice.
In this blog post, we meet Jessica Mellor, Energy Champion here at Citizens Advice Manchester.
Tell us about your role at Citizens Advice Manchester
I’m the Energy Champion here, which means I seek partner organisations who can refer clients to us for advice on energy-related issues. Since November, I’ve been working with Electricity North West, in particular helping to raise awareness of their Priority Service Register and getting more vulnerable people signed up.
I joined Citizens Advice Manchester about 18 months ago as an Energy Adviser. My background is in retail, and since joining the team here, I’ve learned so much about saving money on energy bills as well as the help and support available to clients.
How does your Energy Team work?
There are 7 of us working on the Electricity North West project. Clients come to us for support via external partners such as GPs, StartWell Hubs, and other Citizens Advice branches in Greater Manchester. They can also be referred by ringing Adviceline.
We can offer clients all sorts of energy advice, for example switching suppliers, checking their eligibility for discounts and grants to help with energy costs, helping them to understand energy bills, and signing them up for the Priority Service Register. This is a welfare service that Electricity North West provides to vulnerable people, to keep them safe and comfortable in the event of a power cut.
What are your top 4 energy tips?
Overall, I always encourage people to keep on top of their energy costs and seek advice year-round. Many people only think about energy bills in the winter months, when we use more on heating and bills tend to rise. But by keeping on top of spending and seeking advice early, no matter what time of year, you can relax and know you’re not paying too much for your energy.
Check, switch, and save every year: you can switch energy suppliers up to 40 days before your contract ends, so check available deals early on. If you’re worried about changing suppliers, contact your existing supplier and see if you can be moved to a cheaper tariff.
Keep an eye on the temperature: with many of us working from home, the heating is likely to be on year-round. If your thermostat is moveable, place it in the room where you spend the most time and adjust the settings accordingly during the day.
Take devices off standby: if you’re not using a device, unplug it. With so many devices being used for home working and learning, this simple tip could save you up to £30 a year on your energy bills.
Give regular meter readings: if you’re not using a smart meter, give monthly meter readings to your supplier to avoid costly estimated bills. This is especially important during the pandemic, when suppliers are not sending staff to check meter readings.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Like many people, I’m appreciating the simple things during lockdown. I love walking my dog on Saddleworth Moor, and I’ve been expressing my creativity by decorating my house and painting furniture!
If you’d like to get more help with managing your energy bills, give us a call on 0808 278 7800 or visit our Energy pages for self-referral information