I am a frontline worker
This page is for Plymouth's frontline workers. Here you'll find our referral forms and how we can help
Our Energy Team offer a free to all advice service to support people with energy issues in Plymouth. We work with frontline workers in the city to help residents tackle energy issues they may be facing.
How we help
Evidence shows a strong link between good health and wellbeing and a healthy home. If you are supporting a resident that has energy issues, we can work alongside them, and you, to resolve it.
- We will always prioritise people who are in a ‘no heat’ situation or at risk of self-disconnection.
- We can provide mediation with suppliers, landlords and housing associations where needed.
- We can also apply for energy related grants, energy efficiency measures, schemes to tackle cold, damp homes and to maximise income.
How help is given
- By phone
- By email to energyteam@plymouthenergycommunity.com
- In the home – we offer home visits if otherwise access to support by PEC is not possible. Please ask for an appointment with a PEC Advisor.
- In the community, at accessible events in the city – details are on our website and newsletter.
Our referral forms
Our Energy Team referral form can be found here. If the issue requires us to speak to an energy company please also send in a completed Form of Authority, found here. Please send completed referrals to energyteam@plymouthenergycommunity.com.
If you would like to contact the Livewell Warm homes team please email livewell.warmhomereferrals@nhs.net
Energy Team Referral Form
Energy Team Form of Authority
Livewell Warm Homes Referral
Household Support Fund 3 (Closed)
Household Support Fund round 3 has closed.
The Department for Work and Pensions’ Household Support Fund (3) has now closed. It aimed to support those struggling to meet essential costs due to the Cost of Living crisis.
This means PEC is no longer accepting referrals for Household Support Fund (3).
However frontline workers can still get in touch using the contact details above to make general referrals from partners across the city (Livewell Southwest, Wolseley Trust, University Hospitals Plymouth, Food Plymouth Partners, Stroke Association, Age UK Plymouth, Colebrook Southwest, PATH, Children Social Work).
For more local information on support for your clients/service users, please visit: https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/cost-living
Case studies
Mrs A
Mrs A is in her 80s and was widowed a year before being referred to us. She had struggled to manage the bills and paperwork after her husband’s death. Her direct debit for energy bills had bounced and been stopped and she was £800 in debt with her supplier.
She had been contacted by the supplier and encouraged to set up a direct debit she could not afford to pay and instructed to make an immediate payment of £200.
We were able to:
- Phone the energy company immediately and explain Mrs A’s vulnerability. They agreed to put a stop on collection activities and agreed to reduce the direct debit to an amount that would cover usage only initially whilst we helped to resolve the issues.
- Conduct a home visit to take meter readings, advise on how to make better use of her economy 7 heaters and immersion heaters, showed her how to use the timer switch on the machine to help use her heating system in a more economic way and ultimately reduce bills.
- Set up an energy monitor to help her monitor her electricity usage.
- Purchased Mrs A a heated throw, so she could rely less on the heating during the day, and still keep warm.
- Make outside referrals and applications to ensure Mrs A was getting all the help she was entitled to.
Following the Energy Team's help, Mrs A was successfully awarded Attendance Allowance and can now afford her ongoing energy bills.
Advice guides
We have a wide range of downloadable advice guides: from switching to getting solar, heating controls to lighting, we've got you covered.
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