If you are struggling to pay your energy bills, we strongly recommend you contact your energy supplier and tell them…they will be able to tell you if you have had all the government grants you are entitled to and may be able to help with further advice.
How to reduce your bills
We all need to keep safe and warm in our homes, but there are things we can do to reduce our energy use without affecting our health and wellbeing. Only boiling the amount of water you need, turning down your boiler and adjusting your radiators are just 3 ways that you can make savings.
There are various sources of advice available if you would like to try and reduce your energy bills:
- Simple Energy Advice – a Government funded website providing impartial energy efficiency advice including simple low-cost savings.
- Citizens Advice Bureau – A national charity offering confidential advice on paying energy bills, switching energy suppliers and energy meters.
- National Energy Action – A national charity working to ensure that everyone has a warm safe home. Provides a range of publications on energy advice and information online and a freephone energy advice line: 0800 304 7159.
- Centre for Sustainable Energy – A national charity working to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty. Provide advice and information for householders including useful guides on how to use heating controls.
There are also a number of grants to assist with paying energy bills that, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to receive:
- Winter Fuel Payments - If you were born before 25 September 1957 you could get between £250 and £600 to help you pay your heating bills. You usually do not need to claim Winter Fuel Payment, you will get it automatically if you’re eligible.
- Warm Home Discount – If you are on low income and have high energy costs or are receiving Guarantee credit element of pension credit, you could get £150 off your electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money is not paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between October 2023 and March 2024. You will usually get the discount automatically and if eligible will receive a letter by early January 2024. If you do not receive a letter and think you are eligible, you must contact the Warm Homes Discount Scheme before 29 February 2024. You may be able to get the discount on your gas bill instead if your supplier provides you with both gas and electricity. You will need to contact your supplier to discuss.
- Cold Weather Payments - You may get Cold Weather Payments if you receive one of the following: Pension Credit; Income Support; Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance; Income-related Employment and Support Allowance; Universal Credit or Support for Mortgage Interest. You’ll get a payment if the average temperature in your area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November 2023 and 31 March 2024.