TAMAR Energy Community (TEC), a community enterprise run by experienced volunteers, offers free, impartial advice and practical support about reducing costs and improving the energy efficiency of homes — particularly helpful during this bout of cold weather for people trying to keep costs down or perhaps have ‘leaky’ homes which are difficult to keep warm.

TEC has received some funding from the Big Energy Saving Network and is also working with Plymouth Energy Community to support the Western Power Distribution South West Affordable Warmth Campaign. This helps to cover some of the costs of providing support.

TEC is based at Local Matters, Elbow Lane in Tavistock. You can drop in between 11am and 1pm, six days a week, call 0800 233 5414 for advice over the phone or make an appointment to visit or arrange a home visit.

TEC can help in areas, including understanding your bills and how to pay less, checking you’re on the best energy tariff and switching supplier, finding out if you can get extra help from your supplier, advice on heating controls, smart meters and fuel debt, no and low cost ways to reduce your costs and insulation, boiler replacements and renewable energy options.

TEC will be running a drop-in advice event at Tavistock Library on Tuesday, February 14 from 2pm to 5pm, where people can go along and take their energy bills.

TEC can give talks to community groups and other organisations or your group can come visit Local Matters. It can also provide briefings on how to help others manage their bills if you are a carer or a front-line worker.

For more information visit www.tamarenergycommunity.com, email hello@tamarenergy community.com, call 0800 233 5414 or pop into the Local Matters shop.