Trust increases funding to energy-related advocacy

Concerns about cold and damp homes; seniors struggling to understand new charges on a power bill; and issues over shared meter boxes, are just some of the energy-related enquiries regularly fielded by the Whakatane Citizen’s Advice Bureau.

This advocacy service has been recognised by the Eastern Bay Energy Trust, which has increased its support to CAB through a $1,000 grant from its Community Health, Safety and Wellbeing fund.

“It’s apparent that Citizen’s Advice Bureau is helping a lot of clients around energy and healthy home concerns and we’re keen to encourage them, especially at a time when research is showing that almost one in five hospital admissions for children can be avoided by installing insulation,” says Eastern Bay Energy Trust Manager Rawinia Kamau.

Whakatane CAB Manager Jan Allen says her team of volunteers is often the first port of call for people who are stressed out and vulnerable and as winter approaches energy-related enquiries increase.

“With the colder months, people are more likely to seek information about what they can do about damp and mouldy accommodation, and look for ways to save on their monthly energy bills that they are struggling with,” Ms Allen explains.

“Sometimes people may have heard something about home insulation subsidies but not know the process or criteria.  If they own their own home and hold a Community Services Card they’re likely to be eligible for free insulation. Landlords of homes built before 2000, and who have Community Services Card holding tenants or tenants with children aged under 17, are eligible for a 70% subsidy.”

“We also often make referrals to the Curtain Bank, where clients can source repaired, pre-loved curtains to help keep out the cold. EnergyCheck is another service we recommend, where an energy auditor will visit a home and provide a report on how to reduce your power bill and improve home energy efficiency.”