Home energy advice

The government has recognised that local councils have a unique position to support the delivery of energy-efficient measures in homes and to help tackle fuel poverty. We are committed to keeping Amber Valley residents warm at home, and, where possible, helping keep energy costs manageable, and work with a number of specialised partners who can help assist in these matters.

The council can also provide assistance in a number of other areas;

Offering advice and helping support tenants that are having problems keeping their rented home warm. There is also an enforcement function that responds to concerns raised by tenants of both private and social housing tenants.
Working with Derbyshire County Council to provide adaptations (disabled facility grants) to their home by providing grants for replacement heating if a disability is making it hard to use the fire and other forms of heating.
The council can provide financial support to families with a school age child that has a household income of less than £20,000 and maximum savings of £10,000 to support with heating repairs or provision.
The council is addressing rented properties with the lowest Energy Performance Certificates.
The council is being allocated funding from the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme and is stepping up the response to supporting retrofit and larger scale energy efficiency measures.

We also have an ongoing project to provide free loft and cavity wall insulation installations to Amber Valley residents. Further details about this scheme and how to apply can be found on our Green Homes Grant page.

Energy price rise advice

A free phone line is available to give people living in Derby and Derbyshire impartial advice on how to stay warm at home and cut their energy bills. The Warmer Derby & Derbyshire service is a partnership between the Marches Energy Agency charity and the Local Authority Energy Partnership (LAEP).

They specialise in:

Advice, information, and support with energy suppliers, tariffs, bills, and fuel options
Providing advice on energy efficiency measures, heating efficiency measures, and identifying grants available
Providing checks for eligibility and applications for energy grants and energy company funding schemes

They can be contacted on 0800 677 1332 (Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm).

Home visits are also available to those who need more help.

Payment of bills and fuel poverty

If you are having difficulty paying for your energy bills or would like to find out what options are available to you regarding the increasing energy prices then the Derbyshire District Citizens Advice team is on hand to deal with any queries you may have.

The Citizens Advice Energy Advice team provides support with complaints or customer service issues with energy companies, and also advises on dealing with, and reducing, fuel debt. Their service is free, confidential, impartial, and independent. Contact the adviceline to find out more, and if needed, to book a free energy advice appointment.

They can be contacted on 0808 278 7954 (Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm).

Further information on the above can be found below.

Councils are required to publish a document setting out how they aim to support the government's targets. This should be completed and published every two years.

Whereas the majority of the information on this page is directed at individual homeowners, Amber Valleys Affordable Warmth plan documents the council’s strategic obligations under the Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 to report on what is being done to improve energy efficiency in all residential accommodation in its area.

For detailed information on heating your home, reducing home heat loss generating renewable electricity, or buying energy efficient products, visit energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Home Energy Conservation Act

The Government has placed a responsibility upon councils to assess the needs of their areas and to act as catalysts for change. The Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) 1995 recognises councils' ability to use their position to improve the energy efficiency of all residential accommodation in their areas.

Councils are required by the Home Energy Conservation Act to publish a progress report every two years setting out the energy conservation measures and activity it considers practicable, cost effective and likely to result in significant improvements in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation in its area. View the 2023 HECA report.

Amber Valley Borough Council is part of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Authorities' Energy Partnership, which helped to produce the report.

Need further help or information?

Contact the team directly on 01773 841335 or email eh-housing@ambervalley.gov.uk