Focussing initially on providing advice to households and businesses on existing energy efficiency and microgeneration schemes, DECC says the advice service will go on to play a crucial role in providing independent and impartial advice to consumers, including onward referrals, on the Green Deal when the policy launches in October 2012.
The Advice Service is being delivered by the Energy Saving Trust in partnership with Careline Services.
Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “Having a central and trusted advice line is crucial to ensure people have all the right information about how they can save energy and money. This phone line will ultimately be one of the ways the public will be able to learn more about the Green Deal when it is launched later this year, providing information on how people can benefit from this new and groundbreaking scheme.”
Philip Sellwood, Chief Executive of the Energy Saving Trust, said: “We’ll continue to help people get the right advice at the right time, giving them the confidence to fit energy saving measures which help them to start saving money on their fuel bills. Drawing on our 20 years of consumer advice experience we’ll make sure that the advice given remains impartial and at the highest standard.”
Consumers can access the Advice Service by dialling 0300 123 1234 or by visiting the Saving Energy section of the Directgov website ( www.direct.gov.uk/savingenergy ).