Living alone in a council-owned bungalow and managing a health condition that increased her reliance on energy within the home, Sarah was already balancing rising household costs. The unexpected loss of support left her worried about how she would continue to afford her energy bills.
Sarah contacted YES Energy Solutions through the Wales & West Utilities (WWU) programme looking for help.
“I had previously received support through YES Energy Solutions after my Warm Home Discount was unexpectedly stopped. Losing that support put me in a difficult financial position.”
During her assessment, Sarah explained that concerns about energy costs meant she was limiting her heating despite the potential impact this could have on her health and wellbeing.
Recognising her circumstances and vulnerability, the team acted quickly to provide support.
A £45 Fuel Bank Foundation fuel voucher was secured to provide immediate assistance and help relieve the financial pressure she was facing.
“I contacted YES for help and they were amazing. They were able to support me with a fuel voucher, which really helped at a time when I was struggling.”
While the fuel voucher provided short-term relief, the team also focused on identifying practical ways to reduce Sarah’s future energy costs.
Following a detailed energy advice assessment, YES Energy Solutions provided a range of personalised recommendations designed to improve warmth, reduce energy use and lower household costs.
Advice included:
The team also provided practical measures, including radiator reflector panels and draught excluders, helping to keep more heat inside the home.
Sarah was advised on how to maintain a healthier indoor temperature, particularly in rooms that were less frequently used, helping to reduce the risk of damp and mould while keeping energy use under control.
“I received radiator reflectors and found that they have really helped keep my rooms warmer, especially in the rooms where I have the heating turned up higher.”
“I was also advised to keep the heating on at a lower level in rooms I don’t use as much to help prevent damp and mould. I received draught excluders as part of the energy saver pack too, and these have been really useful.”
Because Sarah relies on electrical equipment to help manage her health condition, reducing energy costs without affecting essential equipment was particularly important.
The advice team introduced smart energy-saving techniques, including the use of smart plugs to better control standby energy consumption.
These changes helped Sarah manage energy use more effectively while ensuring equipment she depended on remained available when needed.
“I now use more smart plugs to control the standby times on my devices. They also help me manage some equipment that supports my medical condition, making things easier and helping to reduce energy use.”
The support provided through the WWU programme is expected to generate annual savings of approximately £1,084 through a combination of energy efficiency improvements, heating advice and behaviour change measures.
The recommendations are also expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 1.12 tonnes of CO₂ each year.
To put that into perspective, that is roughly equivalent to the emissions produced by driving around 3,700 miles in an average petrol car.
For Sarah, the support provided was about more than reducing bills.
By combining emergency financial assistance with personalised energy advice and practical measures, YES Energy Solutions helped improve confidence, reduce financial pressure and support her ability to stay warm and well at home.
Sarah has since recommended the service to others facing similar challenges.
“Yes, I would definitely recommend it. I’ve already mentioned YES to a few people because the help they provide is amazing.”
“The advice and support really do help with reducing energy use, and the difference it can make is significant. The work YES does is fantastic.”
This case demonstrates how targeted support for vulnerable households can deliver both immediate relief and long-term benefits. Through the WWU programme, YES Energy Solutions helped a customer facing financial hardship and health-related challenges access the support needed to stay warmer, reduce costs and feel more secure about the future.
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