Tens of thousands to get £250 free bill credit to help hard-up energy customers
Date: 2024-10-29TENS of thousands of struggling energy customers will get £250 taken off their bill through a new scheme.
Supplier E.ON Next has announced a £92milllion package of support for hard-up households this winter.
More than 60,000 financially vulnerable customers will be given the credit to cover heating bills through the Winter Support Scheme.
If you are eligible, E.ON Next will contact you by post, email, phone and text to let you know in the coming weeks and months.
In addition to the £250 credit, E.ON Next said some customers will be able to set up payment plans if they are struggling with debt while others will be able to have it wiped.
Others will be eligible for free smart meters to help them control their energy bills.
Chris Norbury, chief executive officer of E.ON UK, said: “Our package of support is helping our most in-need customers with their energy bills.
“This £92 million package is dedicated to offering direct assistance, such as through our targeted Winter Support Scheme, to help get people out of debt.”
E.ON Next has also started rolling out £150 bill discounts through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The scheme is a one-off deduction off your energy bills, typically electricity, made between October and March each year.
A number of firms are signed up to the Government scheme, not just E.ON Next, including British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF.
You automatically qualify for the £150 discount if you’re on the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit.
You may also be eligible if you are on a number of benefits, including Universal Credit and Income Support, and your home is classed by the Government as having a high energy cost score.
This means if you live in an energy-efficient property you might not qualify for help, even if you receive a qualifying benefit.
You can read all about the Warm Home Discount scheme on our dedicated page.
Help you can get if you’re not with E.ON Next
A number of other energy firms have announced support packages to hard-up households this winter. Here is all the help on offer.
EDF
EDF is investing £29million in a range of initiatives this winter including debt matching and write offs and energy-saving gadgets.
Debt matching is where an energy firm matches any repayments you have to make to cover arrears while a write off sees them wiped.
EDF has said as an example, if a customer pays £100 towards their bill debt, it will contribute £100 for free.
Some customers will also be offered free energy-saving gadgets if they contact the supplier through the package of support.
To get the support you’ll first be referred to one of EDF’s charity partners: Citizens Advice Plymouth, Income Max, and Charis Grants.
OVO Energy
Ovo Energy has launched a £50million package of support for struggling customers.
The package includes payment holidays for prepayment meter customers and free energy-saving products.
This includes electric throws, mattress toppers, and home efficiency kits.
Direct financial support will also be dished out via direct debit reductions and emergency credit top ups.
What exact support customers will get depends on their individual circumstances and eligibility.
You can apply for the support via https://www.ovoenergy.com/extra-support.
Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy is helping pensioners in the shape of discretionary credit worth between £50 and £200 via its Octo Assist Fund.
The energy firm is urging low income households that don’t receive Pension Credit to apply.
You might be able to get help via the fund if you’re not a pensioner too.
You may be able to get a thermal imagery camera to find heat leaks in your home, as well as free electric blankets.
Octopus is also encouraging all customers to get in contact if they’re struggling with their bills.
Octopus’ Assist Fund has already helped more than 80,000 customers since it launched in November 2021.
Applications to the fund can be written or made by phone or online via https://octopus.energy/blog/octo-assist/.
British Gas
British Gas exclusively revealed to The Sun that it has reopened its cash grants scheme offering out up to £2,000.
The British Gas Energy Support Fund will begin accepting new applications from next Monday (November 4).
The grants will be offered to customers who are struggling to pay for their bills or have sought financial or energy advice.
To be considered for a grant, you must meet the following criteria:
- Reside in England, Scotland, or Wales
- Have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the past 12 months
- Have either a credit or prepayment meter with an outstanding account debt
Customers must also have to have been receiving help from a money advice or guidance agency within the last six months to be eligible.
This could include support from charities like Citizens Advice or StepChange.
To apply, you’ll need to visit britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available.
Scottish Power
Scottish Power has handed out more than £60m in support to customers experiencing difficulties in paying their energy bills, through its Hardship Fund.
You could qualify for help from the fund if you receive support from the following benefits:
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Income-based Jobseeker’s allowance
- Income support
- Housing benefit
- Universal Credit
- Tax credits
- Pension credit savings credit
Help could also be available if you have a low household income or if special circumstances, such as illness, have impacted your earnings.
To apply you’ll first need to seek advice from debt charity Step Change by calling 0800 138 1111.
You’ll then need to apply for funding through Scottish Power‘s scheme by visiting www.support.sigmaconnected.com/scottish-power-hardship-fund
If your application is successful, the fund can wipe all or part of your energy debt.
Utilita
Utilita Giving is Utilita’s charity partner and offers grants to vulnerable customers to help clear energy debt.
The fund provides grants to wipe or reduce energy debts.
However, it’s only available to customers on legacy credit meters.
To find out more and how to apply, visit www.utilitagiving.org/helping-hand-fund.
Utility Warehouse
Utility Warehouse offers financial assistance to customers struggling with their bills.
Citizens Advice Plymouth operates the scheme, which also provides Utility Warehouse customers with budgeting advice and benefits assessments.
The hardship fund allows for debt write-offs worth between £1,000 and £2,000, depending on individual circumstances.
To find out more and how to apply, visit www.help.uw.co.uk/article/billing_and_payments/Payment-help/uw-hardship-fund.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
