WE’RE still firmly in the grip of winter, but some freebies could help you keep energy costs down next year.
Bills for the average household will rise by £94 on January 1 after the new price cap comes into effect.
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So there’s greater reason to look for ways to save, even if temperatures aren’t as low as usual for this time of year.
Luckily, there are a number of energy-saving freebies and grants you can access to help your bank account.
From electric blankets to solar panels, fuel payments and energy vouchers, here’s all the help you can get in 2024.
Energy grants
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
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EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
If you’re with any of these firms, you should contact their customer service team or check out their websites for more details.
Free electric blankets and money-saving gadgets
Octopus Energy is offering customers free electric blankets through its £30million Octopus Assist fund.
The energy firm, which services over five million customers, is dishing out the money-saving gadgets to the most vulnerable.
This means those most likely to receive help are the elderly and those with mobility issues or other medical conditions.
You should contact Octopus to find out if you’re eligible for help.
Ovo Energy is also offering money-saving gadgets to households through a £40million customer support package.
Customers struggling to pay bills can get access to free energy-saving items like electric throws and mattress toppers, LED bulbs, SMART sockets and free boiler servicing.
SMART sockets can be controlled remotely, saving you money on your energy bills.
Ovo Energy is also encouraging customers to sign up for its Power Move scheme.
The scheme pays eligible customers £10 a month if they reduce their energy consumption between 4-7pm.
Further details of both schemes, and how to apply, are on Ovo’s website.
Free boiler
You could get a new boiler installed for free by your energy company if you are on a low income, or considered vulnerable.
Some suppliers are offering the freebie, although eligibility criteria may vary.
British Gas, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, and Ovo Energy all offer help.
However not many providers let you apply online, so you need to call directly to get started.
Customer service numbers are usually found on firms’ websites.
Free solar panels
Some councils offer low-income households money towards making their home greener.
And some offer grants to install solar panels, which could save you around £6,000.
The Sun spoke to pensioner Gareth Hodgson, who applied for tens of thousands of pounds of free home improvements that have nearly halved his bills.
The help you can get from your local council varies depending on several factors including your personal circumstances.
In most areas, homeowners must have a total income of less than £30,000 to get the help.
Your home must have an EPC rating of D, E, F or G for you to be eligible too.
Free energy-efficient showerheads
A number of water companies offer households free water and energy-saving gadgets like regulated shower heads worth £20.
The Energy Saving Trust says switching to a water-efficient shower head can save a family of four on a water meter £195 a year on bills.
This is because less energy is needed to pump, heat and treat the water. The amount you’ll save depends on your circumstances.
To get hold of the money-saving showerheads, you just have to visit the Save Money Save Water website where you have to fill in a short survey about your water usage.
You are then redirected to your water supplier’s website to claim any freebies.
Not all water companies offer the freebies though, including Anglian, Essex and Suffolk, Northumbrian or Thames Water.
That said, you can sometimes get the freebies by heading direct to their websites.
Household Support Fund
The latest round of Household Support Fund is worth £842million and has been shared between councils in England.
They then decide how to distribute that share, although in most cases help is offered to those on a low income or benefits such as Universal Credit.
In any case, you have to apply through your local council, which you can find by using the Government’s council locator tool online.
Some local authorities are handing out energy vouchers while others are making bank transfers.
Councils have until March 31 next year to allocate their share of the latest fund so you will want to act quickly.
Cold weather payment
Cold weather payments are made to hard-up households when there is a seven-day period of sub zero temperatures.
The money is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions and designed to cover extra costs incurred by colder weather.
The scheme runs between November 1 and March 31, although eligible households don’t have to apply as money is paid automatically if you qualify.
However, it’s worth taking note of who qualifies, which is anyone on one of the following benefits:
You may have to meet other criteria too, including:
- Having a disability or be in receipt of pension premium
- Having a child who is disabled
- Receiving child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element
- Having a severe or enhanced disability premium
- Being in receipt of a limited capability for work amount
- Having a child under five living with you
You can read more about eligibility on the Government’s website.
Winter heating payment
The winter heating payment replaces the cold weather payment for households in Scotland and is worth £55.05.
To get the payment you must get one of the following benefits during the qualifying week:
- Universal Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Related Employment Support Allowance
- Support for Mortgage Interest
This year’s qualifying week was November 6 to November 12, 2023.
You also have to meet one other specific requirement of your qualifying benefits.
For example, you will receive a payment if you are on income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support and have any of the following:
- a disability premium
- a severe disability premium
- a pensioner premium
- the disability element of Child Tax Credit
- a child under five
The major difference between the winter heating payment and cold weather payment is that you receive the £55.05 regardless of the weather.
Payments should be made in February or March next year.
Warm home discount
Millions of households in England, Wales and Scotland can get £150 deducted off their energy bills through the warm home discount.
This winter the money will be taken off your bill between late October and March 2024.
You’ll need to receive one or more of the following benefits to qualify:
Eligible households in England and Wales don’t have to apply for the discount, although some in Scotland do.
Scottish residents should check with their energy supplier directly to see if they qualify for the discount.
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