Bumper payout predicted for Age Concern energy customers

Guaranteed Cold Weather Payment for every Age Concern gas customer this winter

[ClickPress, Wed Feb 20 2008] A GUARANTEED £10.50 cold weather payment is set to bring a spot of winter warmth to thousands of Age Concern Energy Services gas customers over the coming months.

The guaranteed payment is part of the Age Concern Energy Services package developed in conjunction with Powergen which combines a wide range of other benefits together with the advantages of competitive prices. Last winter cold weather payments totalling £2 million were given to customers between April and June.

The guaranteed cold weather payment is available to gas customers of all ages. And, along with the wide range of other benefits, the offer makes Age Concern Energy Services one of the most competitive of the UK energy suppliers.

“We know that many older people struggle during the winter months, and this year thousands are likely to feel an even greater chill as the days shorten and temperatures fall said Jeff Morris, Head of Products at Age Concern Enterprises.

“Our cold weather payment will go some way towards helping older people cope and is in addition to the Government’s existing Winter Fuel payment and cold weather rebate schemes for older people. However, unlike these, the Age Concern Energy Services Cold Weather Payments scheme does not have any age restrictions, so if you are registered as an Age Concern Energy Services gas customer at the end of February you will qualify for the guaranteed payment; it’s as simple as that.”

What’s more if you are an Age Concern Energy Services gas customer aged 60 and over you may also receive an additional payment equivalent to an extra three hours free use of a gas fire for each qualifying day based on the number of days the temperature drops below freezing point between December and February. The temperature is taken from Pickering weather station in Yorkshire – one of the coldest places in the UK,.

More than 60,000 people switched to Age Concern Energy Services’ scheme last year. These are some of the reasons why:

- Competitive gas and electricity prices
- Guaranteed cold weather payment for gas customers
- Four free low energy light bulbs
- Free year’s supply of carbon monoxide detectors
- Free hypothermia thermometer
- Free 24 hour customer service helpline
- Free energy efficiency advice
- A choice of ways to contact us – face to face at your local Age Concern, online or over the telephone


To find out more about the Age Concern Energy Services package call free on 0800 404 5010 or visit your local Age Concern**.

- Ends -

For further information please contact George Morrison, Derya Filiz or Elly Kestenbaum at Trimedia Harrison Cowley on 020 7025 7500 or george.morrison@trimediahc.com, derya.filiz@trimediahc.com or elly.kestenbaum@trimediahc.com.


1. A rebate of £10.50 inc. VAT is guaranteed to be paid to all customers for winter 2007/2008 between April and June 2008. All Age Concern Energy Services’ gas customers qualify for the guaranteed payment. They need to be on the Age Concern Powergen gas supply as at 28th February 2008 to qualify. The payment is made as a credit on the customer’s account except in the case of customers on prepayment meters, who may be issued with a cheque.

Our cold weather payment is in addition to any winter fuel and cold weather rebate from the Government.

The amount of the additional Cold Weather Payment which may be paid to gas customers aged 60 and over is now fixed at the equivalent cost of three hours use of a gas fire.

** Not all Age Concerns offer all Age Concern products. Please check by telephoning your local office, before arranging a visit. Trading Age Concerns are Appointed Representatives of Age Concern Enterprises Limited (ACEnt) which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for insurance mediation (311438). ACEnt is registered in England and Wales No. 3156159. Registered Office: Astral House, 1268 London Road, SW16 4ER. Age Concern Insurance Services is a trading name of ACEnt, which is a trading company of Age Concern England and gives any profits to that registered charity.


AGE CONCERN ENERGY SERVICES
Age Concern has teamed up with Powergen to offer an electricity and gas service dedicated to meeting the needs of older people and have recently extended their relationship to 2011. Benefits include:
• Competitive gas and electricity prices, with no standing charges, so customers only pay for what they use
• A guaranteed cold weather payment of £10.50 for all gas customers. Plus, gas customers aged 60 and over may receive an additional payment based upon the number of days the temperature is below freezing
• Four free low energy light bulbs
• Three free carbon monoxide detectors, providing peace of mind for a full year
• A free hypothermia thermometer
• A 24-hour dedicated customer helpline
• Clear, easy-to-follow bills
• Free energy efficiency advice
• A Free Carbon Monoxide Alarm for all customers who join face to face via their local trading Age Concern#
For every customer who switches to Age Concern Energy Services, Powergen makes an annual contribution to support Age Concern’s charitable work. More than 60,000 people switched to an ACES scheme last year.
To find out more about Age Concern Energy Services customers can call free on 0800 404 5010 or visit their local trading Age Concern Office
#Carbon Monoxide alarms are available whilst stocks last

ABOUT AGE CONCERN
At a local level, Age Concern offers a range of services for older people, such as day centres, luncheon clubs, and advice and information services.
At a national level, Age Concern campaigns with and for older people: developing policy; influencing Government; training care professionals; supporting local Age Concern bodies, financially and professionally.
To fund this work, Age Concern needs a constant flow of independent income. It seeks to achieve this through a balance of traditional fund raising and trading activities.
Age Concern’s trading activities enable it to meet the needs of older people, through products specifically designed to meet these needs; quality products such as General Insurance and Energy Services.

Age Concern Enterprises incorporates: Age Concern Insurance Services, Age Concern Energy Services, Age Concern Funeral Plans, Age Concern Weekly Lottery, Age Concern Financial Solutions Ltd, Aid-Call, Age Concern Christmas Cards and Charity Flowers Direct.

ABOUT POWERGEN
Powergen is part of E.ON, one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies, and has around 7.4 million electricity and gas customer accounts. Powergen has been working with Age Concern since 1999 to offer Energy Services and a free electric blanket testing service which gives free replacements for faulty blankets.
Powergen also offers CaringEnergy - a single source of help to reduce energy bills, improve energy efficiency and maximise the income of homes which are currently in or at risk of fuel poverty.
Through CaringEnergy customers can get help with free or discounted cavity wall and loft insulation, a free Benefits Entitlement Check and access to a hardship fund which supports low income households and those facing financial difficulty.

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