Summary

Scheme in detail

SGN’s Help to Heat scheme provides funding to help householders in Scotland and southern England who are not currently on the mains gas network.

For the majority of eligible residents that live near to a gas supply, a connection will be fully funded through the scheme.

Typically, gas is a cheaper fuel source than electricity and will help you live in a warmer, cosier home.

For example, if you currently use electric storage heaters or solid fuel to heat your home, you could save hundreds of pounds each year with a new energy efficient heating system.

You may qualify for funding towards a gas connection and first-time central heating from the Help to Heat scheme if you live in Scotland or certain areas of Southern England and:

• You receive certain income-related benefits, or
• You have a low household income (after rent/mortgage costs) in relation to the cost required to adequately heat your home, or
• You qualify under your local authority's own eligibility criteria, known as a 'Statement of Intent' (find out if your council has additional qualifying criteria)

The shaded area on the map below shows the areas of Southern England covered by the scheme.

Lisa Hart's story

Working single mum Lisa Hart, from Ashford in Kent, received funding towards a gas connection and full central heating system to replace her coal hungry Rayburn heater.

The gas connection was fully funded and what’s more over £4,000 was granted towards the installation of a Worcester boiler and five radiators installed in her home.

Lisa said:

“I was absolutely amazed, gob smacked! I never really apply for things and I could not believe how much help was actually available for people. “It was incredible, I couldn’t believe it, I was just so grateful.”

Previously, Lisa’s home had no central heating or radiators. She explained:

“This winter has been a completely different experience to every other winter!

“I always hated getting coal, and it was always mucky. But now with gas central heating I just feel like I’m so up with new technology, by just having a button to press to turn the system on or off. I’ve never experienced it before, so it’s been an absolute pleasure.

“Before when I came home and if the Rayburn had run out it was such a rigmarole, you have to empty it, relight it, then you’ve got to wait for the house to warm up. Now it’s just a push of a button and in ten minutes the house is warm, it’s fantastic”

Living with her 13-year-old daughter, two cats and a Basset Hound, Lisa says that everyone is loving the new central heating, even the pets.

Lisa is now saving money with her new central heating system, with combined gas and electric bills at around £100 a month, contrasting to the cost of coal, which a £13 bag only lasted the family two days in winter.

Lisa admits:

“I have even been a little bit naughty in that I kept turning the heating on whereas before I’d be worried about the cost of coal.

“I’m 50, I’ve never had central heating in my life, so this has really been fantastic and I would really recommend this scheme to anyone.”

Click here to read more about Lisa and her story.

Contact:Freephone T: 0800 0155174 (office hours: 9am - 5pm, Mon - Fri)

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Our involvement

SGN has appointed YES Energy Solutions as their Fuel Poor Households Support Partner.

We are managing the customer journey for SGN customers in Scotland and southern England and validating them for funding via the Fuel Poverty Network Extension Scheme.

To support the costs of installations we are using our ECO funding facilities to contribute to the funding.