Website and telephone payments Sunday 19 May
Our website and telephone payment systems are unavailable between 9am and 2pm on Sunday 19 May. You will not be able to pay for any council services on our website or over the phone during this time.
Choices4Energy is an energy efficiency advice centre set up to help residents in the Scarborough and Ryedale areas save money on their energy bills.
The scheme is part of the White Rose Improvement Agency.
To help you get a better deal on your energy bills, we are working with switching partner iChoosr, which runs many energy switching schemes across the country.
This offers one-off grants to families and individuals on low incomes in the run-up to winter.
All major energy companies are required by the government to take part in the scheme, which gives eligible customers a one-off grant towards their electricity bill or prepayment meter during the winter.
Schemes are set to open from around August and the payment is expected to remain the same as previous years at £140.
Families on low incomes or benefits are encouraged to get ahead of the queue and register their interest now with the support of the Warm and Well in North Yorkshire project, which seeks to raise awareness of cold homes.
Although criteria for the grant vary according to the energy supplier, generally customers qualify automatically if they are in receipt of the guarantee element of Pension Credit.
Households might also be eligible for the payment if they receive certain means-tested benefits or have an annual income of less than £16,190 and there is a child under five, someone with a disability, or someone elderly living at the property. In this case, residents have to apply for the £140.
Customers can either apply online via their electricity supplier or call them. It is a good idea to get in quickly as some schemes are first-come-first-served and they will close the scheme when they have reached their maximum number of applicants.
Find out more about the warm home discount scheme on the Government website.
If you sign up to your supplier’s priority services register, you can get extra help and support with your energy supply.
You can sign up if you are:
Find out more about the priority service register on the Citizens Advice website.
We provide an oil-buying co-operative for residents in the Scarborough and Ryedale areas. Find out more about oil buying cooperatives here.
This scheme provides preventative services that directly address the risks of death, injuries and illness caused by dangerous gas work and appliances and the promotion of gas safety awareness. Find out more on the Gas Safe Charity website.