Powys council caution amid rogue energy trader fears

As a number of companies are operating across the county to install measures to help make homes more energy efficient, Powys County Council’s Trading Standards Team is urging residents to be on their guard.

Companies often send letters or make household calls, arriving unannounced. Residents are encouraged to ask questions, check if they qualify for funding before agreeing to have the work carried out and never sign an agreement without reading it.

Cllr Richard Church, cabinet member for a safer Powys, said: “Making energy efficiency improvements to your homes can reduce heating bills and help lower carbon emissions, which is good for householders and the environment.

“However, this is a complex marketplace as there have been a long line of energy schemes available to householders as well as numerous companies across the UK that provide and install a range of energy efficiency measures.

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“Whilst there are genuine schemes and companies that can help to make homes more energy efficient, there are, unfortunately, rogue traders taking advantage of this marketplace and targeting householders.

“The practices of misleading the householder into agreeing for works and the poor workmanship that follows is well known, and the latter can leave the householder having to foot the bill to repair any damage caused.

“I urge any householder to check first the validity of any scheme, product, installer and payment before entering into a contract, whether it is free or not.”

For residents who remain interested in improving their energy efficiency, Powys Council have said that they are developing a scheme to help with fuel poverty in the county.

The council claims that the ECO4 Flex scheme will enable home energy improvements and is being delivered on behalf of the council by Warm Wales, a community interest company specialising in delivery of programmes designed to address fuel poverty in Wales.

Warm Wales hopes to provide a fully managed scheme, field enquiries, undertake assessment of client eligibility and work directly with energy providers and agents obligated to deliver measures under the scheme.