Five energy suppliers giving out free bill credit worth up to £250 to millions of customers – and how to get it
MILLIONS of energy customers can get hundreds of pounds of free credit from their supplier this winter.
Several energy companies offer the extra support in order to help hard-up households with rising bills.
Government schemes such as the Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payments are also providing help as temperatures drop.
But, some companies like British Gas and Shell Energy are taking it a step further.
If you’re struggling to pay your bills this winter and don’t know what support is available to you, check our handy guide.
You can also get in touch with your supplier to see what help they can offer you.
Meanwhile, we’ve rounded up the companies who are offering free credit to hard-up customers and how you can claim it.
British Gas – £250
Thousands of British Gas customers can get up to £250 in free credit.
The support is only available to customers who pay for their energy bills through a prepayment meter.
It is a discretionary payment of credit up to £250 for those struggling with energy costs.
That means it’s up to British Gas to decide who gets the help, and not everyone on a prepayment meter will be eligible.
The credit will be added to eligible customers’ prepayment meters over the next month British Gas said.
Customers don’t need to contact the company to apply for the help.
Those who are eligible and need it will be identified and provided with this support.
It comes as part of a new £10million package for vulnerable prepayment customers.
Shell Energy – £150
Shell Energy will be giving thousands of customers an extra £150 to help them this winter.
The energy giant will be boosting the £150 warm home discount payment to £300 for all 157,000 customers who get the help.
You’ll get the top-up if you received certain benefits and joined Shell Energy on or before August 21 this year.
The warm home discount is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with rising costs.
You’ll need to be a recipient of one or more of the following benefits to qualify for the automatic £150 discount:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Universal credit
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credits
- Pension credit guaranteed
- Pension credit savings credit
You can find more details of the scheme on the Shell Energy website.
Utilita – £75
Utilita began paying out its Warm Home Discount in December to eligible customers.
It split the discount into two payments of £75 for its pay as you go customers.
The first payment was made between December 16 and 31, 2022.
The supplier has now confirmed to The Sun that it will issue the next half by the end of January.
Customers who pay for their energy using traditional prepayment meters will be emailed the £75 vouchers this week.
Those with smart prepayment meters will get the £75 credited directly to their meters
It’s also good news for people who pay by direct debit because Utilita will be applying the full £150 onto customers accounts by the end of January too – so it will be shown on bills in February.
EDF – £100
EDF is also offering eligible customers £100 in free credit.
Customers who have their energy supplied by the company and have signed an electric car leasing contract with EDF.
They must have also requested the offer using the
online claim form no later than three months
from signing the personal hire contract.
Customers can then get £100 including credit to the customer’s electricity bill after delivery of the car to the
their property.
Ovo – £15
Ovo has increased its temporary credit from £5 to £15.
This means that when you’re running low you can now get £10 extra to top up your prepayment meter.
It comes as part of OVO’s Customer Support Package.
The company says so far over £300,000 of temporary credit has been issued each week since the scheme started in October.
Fuel vouchers – worth £50
If you’re on a prepayment meter you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.
The fuel voucher scheme comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity, and it’s offered through a range of organisations, like food banks and Citizens Advice.
The best place to start to find somewhere which can offer you a fuel voucher is by asking your local council – you can find yours via gov.uk by searching your postcode.
The voucher should help you cover around two weeks’ worth of electricity use.
Some energy companies may also issue their own vouchers, so ask your supplier directly.
Warm Home Discount – £150
Several energy companies offer the money off bills through the Warm Home Discount scheme.
The discount is available to those on the lowest incomes to help with rising costs.
Households in England and Wales don’t need to apply to get the cash and they’ll automatically qualify if they were receiving certain benefits on or before August 21 last year.
You’ll need to be a recipient of one or more of the following benefits to qualify:
- Income support
- Income based jobseeker’s allowance
- Income related employment and support allowance
- Housing benefit
- Universal credit
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credits
- Pension credit guaranteed
- Pension credit savings credit
If you aren’t claiming any of the above benefits on August 21 you won’t be eligible for the payment.
For those on smart prepayment meters the £150 will be automatically added to your meter, those of traditional prepayment meters may receiver vouchers.
Check with your energy supplier to see how you’ll get your discount.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk