If you're struggling with your energy bills or worried about keeping your home warm, you're not alone. There’s local support in Plymouth to help you reduce costs, access grants, and get expert advice on managing your energy use.
Plymouth Energy Community and Citizens Advice Plymouth have dedicated teams offering free, confidential advice to help you stay warm and worry-free.
Plymouth Energy Community (PEC) – Local Advice & Support
Plymouth Energy Community is a local charity that helps people lower their energy bills and keep their homes warm and damp-free. Their friendly team offers free, impartial advice on all aspects of energy. Including if you are:
- off-supply (have lost access to gas or electricity)
- in an energy crisis and need urgent help
- living in a cold or damp home and need support to improve conditions
- struggling with energy debt, billing, or supplier issues
- looking at home energy improvements
- unsure if you qualify for insulation or heating grants (Use PEC’s eligibility checker to see if your home improvements can be funded.)
How to get help
PEC regularly hold advice sessions around the city, including at local Wellbeing Hubs.
Visit the Plymouth Energy Community website or follow them on social media for up-to-date event details.
PEC has an energy advice shop at the Genesis Building, 235 Union Street, PL1 3HN. It is open on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Call: 01752 477117
Email: [email protected]
Citizens Advice Plymouth – Practical Help with Energy
If you’re struggling with energy bills or debt, Citizens Advice Plymouth can help. Their expert advisors provide free, confidential guidance on:
- dealing with energy suppliers and billing problems
- applying for financial support and grants
- reducing your overall energy costs
How to get help
Visit the team for face-to-face support:
Advice Plymouth drop-in
Ernest English House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth, PL1 2DA
Monday to Friday: 9am to 4:15pm
Visit the Citizens Advice Plymouth website for upcoming outreach locations
Call: 0808 278 7910
Other Support and information
Household Support Fund
The Council co-ordinates financial help for residents struggling with energy and food costs. These funds come from the Government’s Department for Work and Pensions.
Find out more about the Household Support Fund
Help from your energy supplier
Ofgem, the independent energy regulator, provides guidance on what support energy suppliers must offer.
Find out more on the Ofgem website
Energy Provider Partnerships
Citizens Advice work in partnership with 3 energy providers and provide advice to their customers.
Find out more on the Citizen's Advice Plymouth website
Further Help
Citizens Advice offers support with energy bills, supplier switching, efficiency improvements, and dispute resolution. Help is available for payment difficulties, meter issues, disconnections, and business energy concerns.
Find out more about help with your energy supply
The Government also has different support schemes that are available to help you with your energy bills.
Find out more about help with energy bills on GOV.UK
Tips to save energy
There are lots of small actions you can take to help save energy and cut your energy bills:
- Turn appliances off standby mode
- Turn off lights when you’re not using them, or when you leave a room
- Replace the lights in your home with LED bulbs
- Wash your clothes in cooler water (for example, switch to a 30 degree wash)
- Turn your thermostat down – even just turning it down by one degree could help cut bills by around four per cent, according to Money Saving Expert
- Draught-proof your windows and doors – the Energy Saving Trust has useful tips
- Reduce how long you spend in the shower
- Avoid overfilling the kettle and only boil the amount of water you need
- If you have a dishwasher, only run it when it’s full
- Use the ‘eco’ setting on appliances like your dishwasher, washing machine or boiler
- Unplug your charger once a device, like your phone or laptop, is fully charged
- Use the microwave instead of the oven if you can when cooking
The Energy Saving Trust has useful tips for how to save energy on a budget.
Transforming Plymouth Together also has a range of useful energy saving tips, including recipes for meals that require no cooking or use cheaper methods.
Citizens Advice Plymouth have an easy read guide to energy efficiency, with useful top tips.