Saving energy

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The government has announced a new package to help with the cost-of-living crisis. This includes one-off payments that will be made to help with the increase in energy prices.

All households in England, regardless of employment status, will receive a £400 energy grant. For those who pay by direct debit or via monthly bill will get the money credited to their energy accounts. The payments will be rolling out from October 2022 to March 2023. This does not have to be paid back.

There are further payments for those in receipt of certain benefits –  the first category is mean tested benefits.

Over 8 million households will receive a further payment of £650. This will be split into two payments of £325. The Department for Work and Pensions will make the first payment of £325 in July 2022 with a further £325 paid in the autumn months.

These payments will go directly into the account where your benefits are paid. Those in receipt of tax credits will receive their payments from HM Revenue & Customs, not DWP. Those payments will be slightly after the DWP payments.

For the means tested benefits that are included, you need to be claiming one of the following currently or before 25 May 2022:

• Child tax credit
• Income based job-seekers allowance
• Income related employment and support allowance
• Income support
• Universal credit
• Working tax credit

This will not affect your benefits in any way.

Those in receipt of certain disability benefits will get an additional payment of £150 in September 2022.

This is a one-off payment that will be paid directly into the account where you receive benefits and is designed to help with the cost of specialised equipment and food, and increased transport costs.

The eligibility is that you must be in receipt of, or begun claiming before 25 May 2022, one of the following benefits:

• Armed Forces independence payment
• Attendance allowance
• Constant attendance allowance
• Disability living allowance
• Personal independence payment
• Scottish disability benefits
• War pensioners mobility supplement

This payment will not affect your benefits.

Pensioners can also receive up to £600 with the winter fuel payment this year

The Winter Fuel payment scheme helps those aged 66 or above. This payment is between £100 – £300 currently.

In 2022, as a one-off, it includes an additional £300 to help with the cost of living. This will be paid between November and December 2022.

Watch out for the Government’s council tax rebate to help with energy costs. There are a couple of Government schemes to come in place. There’s the controversial “loan not loan scheme” happening in October 2022. But the other one came in, in April 2022, where all those in council tax bands A to D will get a £150 rebate to help with energy costs.

There are a few schemes that can help with grants and funding to help you save money on your energy bills.

• If you were born on or before 26 September 1955 you may qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment of up to £300.
• If you’re on a low income you might qualify for the Cold Weather Payment. You’ll get £25 per week in very cold weather.
• The Warm Homes Discount is a government-run scheme run with some energy suppliers. You’ll be sent a letter if you qualify and be paid some money back to help towards your heating bills.
• The government have launched additional support for vulnerable households this year. You can contact your local council to see if you’re eligible.

• Make sure you understand how your central heating works so you’re using the right settings for your home.
• If you have a heating programmer, check it’s on the right temperature for you and at the right time of day.
• Find out how to make the most of your storage heaters if you have them.
• If you need help with your heating system, just let us know.
• Get tips on saving energy on the Energy Saving Trust website.

There’s lots of different ways to reduce the amount of water you use. And if you’re on a water meter this can help as well.

Find out how to use less water when you shower, wash your clothes or even flush the toilet.

If you don’t have a water meter you can contact your supplier to find out if changing might save you money.

Some water suppliers now offer discounts for customers on a low income. Check here to see if yours offers a discount.

We have been forging new partnerships with local energy charities across the country, to increase access to energy support and advice for our customers. One of them is Connect for Help, an energy advice organisation targeted towards households that are already in, or at risk of, fuel poverty. They’ve been helping our customers reduce their energy bills to ensure that they can afford to keep warm throughout the winter. If you’d like free confidential advice from Connect for Help, you can contact them via their website, email or by calling 0800 029 4548.

The energy market is in turmoil. Wholesale prices (the prices that firms pay) are at unprecedented highs and multiple energy firms have gone bust in 2021. What’s more, bills have just risen by a typical £139/year for millions, after regulator Ofgem hiked the price cap to its highest-ever level on 1 April 2022.

Unfortunately there are currently few deals that are meaningfully cheaper than the price cap right now. However there are sites and organisations that offer support and advice on energy and bills:

• Money Saving Expert
• Connect for Help
• Citizens Advice have useful information for if a supplier goes bust