More than 190,000 Brits are at risk of missing out on a free £150 reduction in their energy bills this winter. The government’s Warm Home Discount scheme gives households the chance to benefit from this price cut between October and March each year.
Kicked off on October 14 last year, the Department for Energy and Net Zero spearheaded the latest initiative, with qualifying Brits tipped off via post. But how you receive the discount hinges on your meter type and your method of paying for your energy, the Mirror reports.
For most, including those with smart prepayment meters, the £150 discount is applied automatically without a hitch. However, if you’re still clicking a key into an older meter for top-ups, you’ll need to head down and trade a voucher physically to net the saving.
According to The Sun, the Post Office has been distributing these vouchers on behalf of EDF Energy, OVO Energy, British Gas, among others, for almost three months. Roughly 190,000 letters have been issued as of this week, though it’s unclear how many recipients have responded.
Kevin Elson, postmaster at Bache Post Office, told the publication: “We know many people are worried about the cost of their energy bills as the colder weather starts to set in. £150 can make a big difference, especially to people who are on pay-as-you-go meter.”
Residents of England and Wales are among those who may receive one of these vouchers and benefit from the Warm Home Discount scheme. Automatic eligibility for the support is given to claimants of certain benefits, including:
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Universal Credit
- Housing benefit
- Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits
- Pension Credit Savings Credit (PCSC)
Your property must also have a ‘high energy cost score’ to qualify for the scheme. This is not based on energy costs in your bill, but instead references your property type, age and floor area.
Letters encompassing a voucher will clearly state a deadline for claiming, which could be valid for 30 to 90 days from issuance. If your voucher is lost or outdated, it’s crucial to contact your energy provider to request a new one.
Once you’ve received this, you’ll need to visit your local Post Office branch and present this to staff along with personal ID and a relevant utility bill. Both your ID, which can be a passport or driving licence, and utility bill must have the same name on them.
Someone you know can redeem the £150 discount on your behalf, but they will need to bring their own and your ID, in addition to the utility bill.
Is my energy supplier part of the Warm Home Discount scheme?
The Government states that 27 suppliers are participating in the scheme. These include the following:
- 100Green (formerly Green Energy UK or GEUK)
- Affect Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Boost
- British Gas
- Bulb Energy – see Octopus Energy
- Co-op Energy – see Octopus Energy
- E – also known as E (Gas and Electricity)
- Ecotricity
- E.ON Next
- EDF
- Fuse Energy
- Good Energy
- Home Energy
- London Power
- Octopus Energy
- Outfox the Market
- OVO
- Rebel Energy
- Sainsbury’s Energy
- Scottish Gas – see British Gas
- ScottishPower
- Shell Energy Retail
- So Energy
- Tomato Energy
- TruEnergy
- Utilita
- Utility Warehouse
You can check your eligibility here.