Money Matters: Help With Your Energy Bills
In this week’s Money Matters column, Wrekin’s Debt and Energy Manager Dan Bebbington highlights some of the schemes on offer to help those struggling to pay their energy bills.
Gas and electricity bills have gone up again after the energy price cap was increased this month.
The cap, set by industry regulator Ofgem, has gone up 5% – meaning an average household with both gas and electricity, paying by direct debit, will be paying £1,928 a year.
While it is less than we were paying last winter, it’s still double what the cap was set at before the energy crisis.
It’s important to remember the price cap figure is just for typical usage and your actual bills will depend on how much you use.
While the cap is expected to go down again later in the year, this increase has come at the coldest time of year when people will normally have higher usage.
It will understandably be causing concern among those already struggling to stay on top of their bills.
Research by consumer group Which? found that 13 million households avoided turning their heating on last winter.
If you’re worried about paying your energy bills, there is support available.
The British Gas Energy Trust will consider grant applications from anyone, regardless of who your energy supplier is. The Trust helps families and individuals experiencing hardship who are struggling with energy debts.
Lightning Reach is a financial support portal which will show you any grants you may be able to apply for, based on your personal circumstances.
You could get £150 off your energy bills this winter under the Warm Homes Discount scheme, if you get the guaranteed element of pension credit or you are on a low income and have high energy costs.
If you’re eligible you should have already been contacted about this. If you haven’t been contacted, you can check your eligibility online.
If you can’t afford to top up a pre-payment meter, you might be able to get a fuel voucher. Your local council might be able to help with this, or you can speak to an energy advisor.
Winter Fuel Payments of between £250 and £600 were made at the end of last year to eligible people born before 25 September 1957. If you didn’t get the payment, you can check your eligibility online.
You may get cold weather payments during cold spells if you claim certain benefits. You’ll get £25 each time the average temperature in your area is below zero degrees for seven consecutive days.
Connected For Warmth is a scheme offering free heating and insulation upgrades to low-income or vulnerable households. You can check your eligibility online.
You can seek free advice from a number of organisations, including the Marches Energy Agency, LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partners) and National Energy Action. Wrekin Housing Group customers can also access our energy advice service.
24th January 2024