If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, the first things to do is to contact your energy provider. There are Energy Charitable trusts can help if you are in debt. They may be able to help with paying for fuel arrears.
Energy Bill Helplines
Contact numbers for the main suppliers:
British Gas - 0800 072 8625
Octopus - 0808 164 1088
E.On - 0345 052 0000
Swalec - 0345 026 2658
N Power - 0800 073 3000
Scottish Power 0800 027 0072
Ovo - 0330 303 5063
Grants to help pay off energy debt
If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay it off.
The following energy suppliers offer grants to their customers:
- British Gas Energy Support Fund - apply for a grant on the British Gas Energy Trust website
- EDF Energy Customer Support Fund - sign up to the Priority Services Register to apply for a grant on the EDF Energy website
- E.ON Next Energy Fund - apply for a grant on the E.ON Next Energy Fund website
- Octopus Octo Assist fund - apply for a grant on the Octopus website
- Ovo Customer Support Package - apply for help on the Ovo Energy Fund website
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund - apply for a grant on the Scottish Power Hardship Fund website
- Utilita Helping Hand fund - apply for a grant on the Utilita Giving website
- Utility Warehouse Prepayment Relief Fund - apply for a grant on the Utility Warehouse website
If your supplier isn’t listed, it’s a good idea to contact them directly to see what extra support they can give you.
If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, you might be able to get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. These grants are available to anyone - you don’t have to be a British Gas customer. You can check if you can get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust here: https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available/
Priority Services Register (Energy companies)
If you are of pensionable age, living with a disability, chronic illness or visual/hearing impairment (or someone in your household is), ask your energy supplier if you are eligible for its Priority Services Register.
This provides you with free extra services and may help protect you from disconnection if you struggle to pay your energy bills if your supplier has signed up to the Energy UK Safety Net scheme.
The Energy UK Safety Net scheme
If your supplier has signed up to the Energy UK Safety Net scheme, they have pledged to never knowingly disconnect a vulnerable customer at any time of year.
Examples of customers who might be considered vulnerable under these terms include households where there is:
- An elderly person (of pensionable age) or someone caring for them in the household
- Someone who is disabled or has a long-term medical condition and is unable to support themselves or is dependent on medical equipment that is operated by electricity (such as a stair lift, wheelchair, defibrillator, or dialysis machine)
- A young child.
Benefits - Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments
The following Government schemes may be available to you if you are on certain benefits:
Winter Fuel Payments – This is a payment made to people over Pension Credit age to help with fuel costs.
Cold Weather Payments – If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for these if the average temperature in your area falls to 0° Celsius or below for seven days in a row.
A £200 grant to help with Fuel Bills is available to families and individuals who receive:
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
- Disability benefit
- Carers allowance
- Contributory benefits
- Council tax reduction scheme
If you are unsure about who best to contact for support, please contact me on 01443 853214 or at [email protected]
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