How your vitality supplier might enable you save as much as £2,000 off your invoice

[ad_1] Your assist helps us to inform the story From reproductive rights to local weather change to Huge Tech, The Impartial is on the bottom when the story is growing. Whether or not it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, 'The A Phrase', which shines a light-weight on the American girls preventing for reproductive rights, we all know how essential it's to parse out the info from the messaging.

At such a vital second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to each side of the story.

The Impartial is trusted by Individuals throughout the whole political spectrum. And in contrast to many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock Individuals out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We consider high quality journalism must be out there to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.

Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra The colder climate has begun to chew, and with it, the unwelcome rise in heating prices as individuals try to keep heat.

Hundreds of thousands of individuals throughout the UK are battling the high-price of vitality this yr, because the rising value of dwelling makes this Christmas a troublesome one for a lot of.

There are various avenues of assist out there for these trying to scale back prices this winter, however one of many lesser-known choices comes from vitality suppliers themselves.

Below Ofcom guidelines, all main vitality firms should supply assist to struggling clients, with many schemes on supply. This ranges from freebies like electrical blankets and effectivity upgrades, all the way in which to money grants and debt write-offs.

For many who discover themselves falling behind on payments, it's at all times advisable to contact vitality suppliers as quickly as attainable to see what assist is accessible. All will often permit clients to barter a cost plan that they will afford, however in some circumstances, as a lot as £2,000 is on supply to sort out the prices.

Right here’s what’s on supply from the UK’s six greatest vitality suppliers:

British Gasoline Belief

By means of the British Gasoline Belief, there are grants for each clients and non-customers of the vitality supplier of the identical title. Whereas British Gasoline funds the belief, it's impartial from the corporate.

Prospects of British Gasoline can rise up to £2,000 from the belief’s ‘Power Assist Fund (ESF)’, whereas non-customers can obtain as much as £1,700 from its ‘People and Households Fund (I&F)’.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/17/9/40/iStock-1327468760.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/17/9/40/iStock-1327468760.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C3%2C0%2C1&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/17/9/40/iStock-1327468760.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=0%2C3%2C0%2C1&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Through the British Gas Trust, there are grants for both customers and non-customers of the energy provider of the same name" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

By means of the British Gasoline Belief, there are grants for each clients and non-customers of the vitality supplier of the identical title (Getty/iStock) Power Assist Fund

British Gasoline Belief affords this fund to British Gasoline credit score and prepayment meter clients. Candidates should not have obtained a grant from the belief throughout the final 12 months, and should owe between £250 and £2,000 in excellent debt.

The belief requires candidates to submit their account steadiness for evaluation – if this exceeds the £2,000 threshold, the applying might be denied.

Get a free fractional share price as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and situations apply.

Go to web site ADVERTISEMENT

Get a free fractional share price as much as £100.Capital in danger.

Phrases and situations apply.

Go to web site ADVERTISEMENT

People and Households Fund

Prospects of different vitality suppliers can apply to this fund from the British Gasoline Belief offered they haven't obtained a grant from the charity throughout the final two years.

Prepayment clients should owe not less than £50, in vitality debt, whereas credit score account clients should owe £250 – and each as much as £1,700. They have to even have a family revenue of lower than £20,328, and/or stay in a family with somebody who receives a incapacity profit or carer’s allowance, and/or has three or extra youngsters.

Crucially, clients of different massive vitality suppliers which have their very own vitality assist funds can solely apply if they've been declined by their suppliers’ scheme.

Extra particulars can be found on the British Gasoline Belief web site.

British Gasoline mentioned: “Tackling vitality debt and gasoline poverty is a precedence for us and we’re ensuring assist is accessible when it’s wanted most. We’ve dedicated £140 million, the UK’s largest voluntary vitality assist package deal, to assist be certain that nobody is dealing with these challenges alone.”

Octopus

To assist assist individuals by way of the vitality disaster, Octopus has arrange its ‘Octopus Help’ programme – a £40 million fund providing numerous technique of assist. This consists of grants, standing cost holidays and debt write-offs, the vitality supplier says, for these with the “best want”.

What’s on supply is determined on a case-by-case foundation, with clients invited to clarify their revenue and outgoings to make an utility. Octopus says it has supported over 100,000 clients by way of the fund to this point.

The vitality supplier additionally runs its ‘You Pay, We Pay’ initiative, which sees it match each further cost {that a} buyer in debt makes to assist them in decreasing their debt additional over a time frame.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/07/08/10/30/iStock-2150410219.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/07/08/10/30/iStock-2150410219.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=83%2C0%2C83%2C0&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/07/08/10/30/iStock-2150410219.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&crop=3%3A2%2Csmart&trim=83%2C0%2C83%2C0&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="Octopus has set up its ‘Octopus Assist’ programme – a £40 million fund offering various means of support" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

Octopus has arrange its ‘Octopus Help’ programme – a £40 million fund providing numerous technique of assist (Getty/iStock) Pensioners in want also can get a one-off £200 to assist them, whereas weak clients are provided a free electrical blanket to maintain heat and scale back payments.

For full particulars of what’s on supply, Octopus clients can go to the supplier’s web site.

An Octopus Power spokesperson mentioned: “We're obsessive about driving down payments for our clients whereas making certain assist is at all times out there to those that want it.

“We urge our clients to get in contact with us if they're struggling, as we've got many various methods to assist – from thermal imaging cameras, to free electrical energy periods and electrical blankets.”

OVO

OVO has pledged £56 million to its ‘Additional Assist Package deal’, which affords year-round assist and further assist in winter.

Topic to eligibility, candidates can obtain direct debit reductions, emergency credit score top-ups, and prolonged reimbursement plans. OVO additionally affords free vitality saving merchandise like electrical throws, and free vitality effectivity house upgrades to assist scale back payments.

For full particulars of what’s on supply, OVO clients can go to the supplier’s web site.

An OVO spokesperson mentioned: “Our groups are at all times available to assist clients. We’re offering assist to those that want it most by working along with our charity companions and providing our Additional Assist Package deal.”

E.ON Subsequent

E.ON Subsequent clients are in a position to apply for assist through the corporate’s Power Fund. This will present grants to assist with payments and debt, in addition to alternative home equipment.

To be eligible for a grant, candidates should cross a three-month provisional award scheme, and be capable to cowl their common month-to-month vitality use. Throughout this time, E.ON will clear any debt and – offered all funds have been made – the debt might be cleared.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/12/19/14/d97e8088a1f7cf875e8c5a9ecf894b42Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzAzMDgxMjUx-2.17880758.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/12/19/14/d97e8088a1f7cf875e8c5a9ecf894b42Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzAzMDgxMjUx-2.17880758.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/12/19/14/d97e8088a1f7cf875e8c5a9ecf894b42Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzAzMDgxMjUx-2.17880758.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="E.ON Next customers are able to apply for support via the company’s Energy Fund (Chris Radburn/PA)" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

E.ON Subsequent clients are in a position to apply for assist through the corporate’s Power Fund (Chris Radburn/PA) (PA Archive) Purposes are thought of on a case-by-case foundation, however the vitality firm asks for proof of any advantages obtained by any grownup within the households, in addition to medical proof of any disabilities or well being situations.

The corporate additionally affords reasonably priced cost plans, variable debt reimbursement charges, and momentary reimbursement credit score for these in want.

For full particulars of what’s on supply, E.ON clients can go to the supplier’s web site.

EDF

Prospects of EDF are in a position to apply for added assist by way of the supplier’s Buyer Assist Fund. It could actually present grants to assist with debt, and substitute home equipment.

The fund is accessible to clients who're battling debt and wish assist changing into financially steady. EDF says candidates want to indicate they're dedicated to being financially steady by making common funds for ongoing vitality use.

Profitable candidates might want to make a reimbursement plan with the French vitality firm, throughout which era they are going to droop any debt exercise. If enough funds are remodeled this era, then the debt might be cleared in full.

The vitality firm asks for proof of advantages being obtained by any grownup within the households, and for medical proof of any disabilities or well being situations.

For full particulars of what’s on supply, EDF clients can go to the supplier’s web site.

ScottishPower

ScottishPower has pledged over £60m to its hardship fund, which is designed to assist clients get their funds beneath management, and might be able to clear or scale back arrears.

To be eligible, most candidates will should be in receipt of a qualifying profit like common credit score or ESA. In distinctive circumstances, ScottishPower says it can settle for purposes for these on low incomes, however not claiming a qualifying profit.

The corporate additionally affords reasonably priced instalment plans, pay as you go meters, and the choice to regulate cost on-demand utilizing its app.