OVER four million prepayment meter customers are set to receive a £400 energy bill discount between October and March.
How exactly you’ll receive the £400 payment will differ depending on how you pay for your energy bills and which is your provider.
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Those who have a traditional prepayment meter will need to redeem vouchers to receive the discount.
You’ll be on a traditional prepayment meter if you have to top up via a card or key fob which you have to add cash to at a local PayPoint kiosk.
It’s vital that your energy supplier has your up-to-date contact details to ensure you’ll receive the vouchers and understand how to redeem it.
If you don’t receive the vouchers within three months of receiving them they will expire.
If you don’t redeem your voucher in time, you’ll need to request a new voucher from your energy firm.
The £400 discount will be paid in six instalments.
Customers will receive a £66 discount in October and November and a £67 discount in December, January, February and March.
Those on credit meters who pay by direct debit and those on smart prepayment meters will not need to do anything to receive the discount.
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Energy firms will automatically apply the discount for these customers – whether that’s through their bills or directly on to their smart prepayment meters.
You can find out how your energy supplier will pay you the discount here.
How will I get the vouchers?
If you’re on a traditional prepayment meter, you could receive the voucher in one of two ways.
Some customers will be given a redeemable energy bill discount voucher in the post.
Others will be sent a special action message (SAMs) in the first week of each month, issued via SMS text or email.
How do I use the vouchers?
To take advantage of the discount you’ll need to actively redeem the vouchers.
Customers will be able to do this at their usual top-up point.
This can be done at your local Post Office or a PayPoint Shop.
You should receive clear instructions on how to use and redeem the full value of these vouchers.
You must redeem the vouchers within 90 days of their issue date – if you don’t you’ll have to get in touch with your energy firm and wait for a new voucher to be issues.
What other help can I get?
If you’re on a prepayment meter you might be able to get a one-off voucher to top up.
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.
If you’re still not sure if you can get a voucher, you can get help from an adviser, Citizens Advice says.
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.
Energy companies usually offer emergency credit, though you will have to pay this back.
How much you get and how it’s applied will depend on who your supplier is.
It might be added to your meter when you fall below a certain amount or you might have to ask for it.
Anyone getting the state pension should also get winter fuel payments worth £100s. Winter fuel payments are a tax-free payment that comes from the government each year and is worth between £100 and £300.
Those claiming certain state benefits should also be entitled to £150 under the Warm Home Discount scheme.
Councils are also offering residents cash support through the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Fund scheme.
