Government Support for Household Energy Bills

The UK Government recently announced measures to support households with the cost of their energy bills this winter, to ease the pressure from the global rise in energy prices.

From 1st October, the Energy Price Guarantee will mean a typical UK household will pay an average of £2,500 a year on their energy bills for the next two years. This is automatic and applies to all households.

This will save the average household at least £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October.

In addition to this, households will benefit from a £400 discount on their energy bills via the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

About the Energy Bills Support Scheme

The Energy Bills Support Scheme is a Government scheme which provides a £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households in Great Britain to help with their energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023. You won’t have to pay it back.

You’ll get the £400 in six instalments starting from October 2022. You’ll get:

• • £66 in October and November
  • £67 in December, January, February and March

You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card. Your electricity supplier should provide more guidance on the scheme before it starts. If you have not received your first instalment by the end of October 2022, you need to contact your energy supplier.

Messaging to traditional prepayment meter customers

You will receive the Energy Bills Support Scheme discount from the first week of each month between October 2022 and March 2023.

Your supplier should have your contact details, but if you’re not sure or you don’t receive any information from them, you should check that they have your latest number and email.

You’ll get the discount automatically in one of the following ways, as:

• • Redeemable vouchers, sent by SMS text, email or post
  • An automatic credit when you top up at your usual top up point

Your electricity supplier will let you know in advance how you will get your discount.

If you get vouchers you’ll need to redeem them at a top-up point. Your supplier will tell you where to redeem them, for example at a Post Office branch or a PayPoint shop.

Payzone outlets are unable to accept the vouchers.

To find out more, visit the Energy Bills Support Scheme on gov.uk.