‘Energy Bill Support Scheme’ – Government Help with Energy Bills

The prices of global energy have soared in the last year, leaving customers with an unprecedented rise in gas and electric costs. It’s been estimated that some energy bills will reach a staggering £4,200 annually by the end of this year, which is three times the amount households had to fork out come the start of 2022.

In response to this, the government has created the Energy Bill Support Scheme, to give all households in Great Britain help with energy bills. Whilst the bill was announced in April, further details have just come out and we’ve summarised all you need to know – including what happens if energy bills are already included in your rent.

Who is eligible?
As previously stated, all households in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible for the scheme, providing they have a domestic electricity connection.

When will I receive it?
Everybody will be entitled to a £400 discount on their bills, paid in six monthly instalments from October through to March: £66 a month for the first two months, rising to £67 for the remaining four.
It doesn’t matter how often you pay your current gas and electric bill, the reduction will still be applied per month.

How will I get my money?
You don’t have to contact your energy suppliers, the £400 discount will be applied automatically. How you pay your fuel bill will determine how the money is applied.

Pay via direct debit = automatically deducted from your bill
Payment and credit card customers = credit will be applied to your account automatically
If you pay via ‘smart meter’ = automatic top-ups on your account
Traditional pay meter = There will be a voucher you can cash in at a Post Office

My energy costs are included in my rent, what happens now?
Landlords that have a domestic contract with a licensed electricity supplier, who charge tenants based on their usage, must abide by the rules of the maximum resale price.

The maximum resale price is determined by what the reseller, usually the landlord, paid for it. It is therefore expected that the discount is passed on by landlords to each tenant.

Those who charge an ‘all-inclusive’ rent, popular with many student households whereby the fuel costs should be included, should also pass on the discounted rate to their tenants.

If you feel worried that that you may not be receiving the benefits on this policy, you can find Ofgem’s rules that protect tenants here.

Additional government help with energy bills

Households that are most in need may be eligible for further support. This includes:

• 8 million households (means tested benefits) to receive a one-off payment of £650, called a Cost of Living Payment
• Over 8 million pensioners will receive a £300 one-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, alongside winter fuel payments
• Those with certain disability benefits will receive £150 – around 6 million people qualify
• The Household Support Fund will be extended and get a £500 million increase

If you’re paying too much each month in debt, a secured loan might be a viable option to reduce your outgoings. We have access to the whole market of lenders, meaning we can help you land a more favourable interest rate, despite your credit history.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT. THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME.