BILL SAVE
Energy firms giving away free £150 this winter to help with bills – is your supplier on the list?
Scroll down for the full list
YOU may be eligible to get a free £150 to help with your energy bills this winter.
A number of energy suppliers will be giving the discount on bills for struggling households this winter.
2
2
The help is being provided via the Government's Warm Home Discount scheme.
The package sees energy suppliers give a £150 discount on the electricity bills of people claiming certain benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions.
The support is not awarded as cash into your bank account but instead applied directly to your account by your energy supplier.
The credit you have in your energy account will increase by £150 so it can only be used on your energy bills.
Read More on Energy Bills
If you have a traditional prepay meter, you will instead be sent a voucher which you can use to top up the meter in your home.
The support is given automatically to people claiming certain benefits including:
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
To get the money this year, you will need to be claiming these benefits during the qualifying week.
Most read in Money
This is usually in August, however the official week has not yet been confirmed.
The will reopen in October and it is likely we will get an update then.
Winter Energy Savings: Cosy Club’s DIY Hacks
It's also important to know that not all energy suppliers are part of the scheme.
So even if you are claiming the eligible benefits, you may not receive the help.
Which suppliers participate in the Warm Home Discount scheme?
According to GOV.UK, the following suppliers took part in last year's Warm Home Discount scheme. This means it is likely they will be a part of this year's too - although this has not been confirmed.
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy
- Atlantic
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy
- Co-op Energy
- E
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Good Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas
- Scottish Hydro
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Southern Electric
- SSE Energy Services
- Swalec
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
If your energy supplier is part of the scheme, they should contact you to let you know whether you are eligible, these letters usually come before January the next year.
The scheme opens in October and runs until March each year so your discount can be applied anytime.
Do I need to apply for the discount?
Households in England and Wales don't have to apply to get the cash and receive it automatically.
You should look out for a letter between October 2024 and early January 2025 telling you:
- You're eligible and you'll get the discount automatically; or
- You might be eligible, and you need to give more information.
- The letter will tell you to call the helpline by 29 February 2024 to confirm your details.
If you don't get the letter by early January 2024 and you think you're eligible, you need to call the helpline on 0800 030 9322.
If you're eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill by March 31, 2025.
EDF Energy, which has around 5.22million customers, has said that it will aim to pay the discount by the end of February 28, 2025 at the latest.
And British Gas, the UK's biggest supplier with 7million billpayers, has also confirmed that it will make the payments.
Some Scottish households do have to apply for the discount.
In Scotland, there's a "core group" that'll receive an automatic payment and a "broader group" which has to apply for the scheme with their energy provider.
You'll need to check with your energy supplier directly to see the eligibility requirements and details on how to apply.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
The scheme will have more applicants than places, so make sure you apply as soon as possible.
Octopus Energy customers can apply by visiting octopus.energy/login/?next=/dashboard/new/accounts/warm-home-discount/.
What energy bill help is available?
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
Plus, you can join our Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Topics