FAMILIES will pay more than £200 to heat their house over the winter as the cost of energy bills soar.
Households will pay more than last year due to the hike to the energy price cap and the ongoing crisis in the sector.
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According to calculations by Energy Helpline, it will cost £69.50 a month to heat your home this winter.
That amounts to £208.50 over December, January and February.
During the same period, the average household could expect to spend £79.98 on electricity bills, Energy Helpline said.
That would cost an additional £239.93 during the winter period – bringing the total cost for both gas and electricity to a whopping £448.44.
The calculation was based on the average consumption data for a three to four bed home over the winter.
It assumes people are on the standard variable tariff but the cost of your heating bills could vary.
How much you pay depends on what tariff you’re on, how much energy your family use and how big your house is.
If you pay by direct debit your bills will be adjusted so you will pay the same amount every month rather than experiencing a hike in winter.
You might still be on a fixed tariff, which would mean you pay less for energy at the moment.
However, many people have been pushed off their fixed tariff when their energy company has gone bust.
More than 20 energy firms have collapsed since September, affecting 4million households.
How can I get help paying my energy bills?
Cold weather payment
If you’re claiming certain benefits including Universal Credit you could be eligible for a £25 a week cold weather payment.
When the temperature drops below zero in your area between November 1 and March 31, some people can get extra help with bills.
The temperature has to stay below zero for seven days in order for the payment to be made.
You can check if you’re eligible for the grant on the government’s website.
Winter fuel payment
The winter fuel payment provides extra help for elderly people to put towards their energy bills during the coldest months of the year.
It’s an annual tax-free benefit, which is worth between £100 and £300.
The payments are usually made automatically in November or December if you claim a state pension, and the government will send you a letter explaining how much you’ll get.
If you meet the criteria but don’t automatically get the payment then you can apply online.
You qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment if both the following apply:
- you were born on or before 26 September 1955
- you lived in the UK for at least one day during the week of 20 to 26 September 2021 – this is called the ‘qualifying week’
If you did not live in the UK during the qualifying week, you might still get the payment if both the following apply:
- you live in Switzerland or a European Economic Area (EEA) country
- you have a genuine and sufficient link to the UK – this can include having lived or worked in the UK, and having family in the UK
Warm home discount
The warm home discount is a one-off £140 discount off your electricity bills paid between September and March.
There are two ways to qualify for the scheme.
You’ll get the discount if you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or if you’re on a low income and meet your energy supplier’s criteria.
How you apply for the scheme depends on which group you fall into – you can find more information on the government’s website.
Grants to clear energy arrears
Some companies have set up schemes to help customers clear arrears if they’ve fallen behind on their bill payments.
For example, the British Gas Energy Trust can provide grants to people who meet certain criteria to pay off their debts.
You don’t have to be a British Gas customer, although you’re more likely to get a grant if you are, but there are other eligibility checkers.
You can also use an online grant checking tool, like the one provided by charity Turn2Us, to find other grants.
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