Hundreds of workers from the Citizens Advice Bureau and housing associations are to be taught how to advise low income households to ensure they get the best deal on their energy bills.
The Energy Best Deal campaign, funded by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), is being rolled out nationally by Ofgem following a successful pilot.
The advisors will learn about savings that people can make through switching their energy deal, either to another supplier or to their existing supplier's cheapest offer.
They will also learn what help low-income customers can get from their energy suppliers and the government with their energy bills and will find out what advise to give in relation to home insulation and other energy efficiency measures. Training sessions for the workers will take place nationwide during the next few months.
Energy and Climate Change minister Joan Ruddock launched the training campaign on Thursday, October 23, during Energy Saving Week.
Joan Ruddock said 'We must do as much as we can at this time of high energy prices to help people deal with their fuel bills- especially those who are the most vulnerable such as the elderly and those on low incomes'.
She added 'This new army of energy advisors that we are training will be on the frontline helping people find the best energy deal available and giving energy efficiency advice that will make a real difference to their bills, their homes and their carbon footprint'