THOUSANDS of struggling households could see their energy bills slashed by up to £700 a year.
A £1.5billion upgrade programme will help 130,000 social and low-income households slash their bills.
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Homes with poor insulation and out-dated heating systems will be in line for upgrades that can help bring the cost of their energy bills down by between £400 and £700 a year.
But only the worst performing low-income homes, ranging from Energy Performance Certificate Bands D to G, will be eligible for the new upgrades.
The cash boost forms part of the Government’s “Help to Heat” funding which helps struggling households improve their home’s energy efficiency and subsequently slash their heating bills by £700 a year.
Households will be able to have their homes retrofitted with wall and loft insulation, double glazing, heat pumps and solar panels under the scheme.
They will not be limited to one installation and could get their home insulated as well as having their doors and windows upgraded to reduce heat leakage and cut their energy bills.
Those living in social housing will not need to do anything if eligible as their housing provider will get in touch.
Other households will need to check what their local authority has on offer and they may need to apply for the help.
Different local authorities will deliver the funding in different ways – so you will need to check with your council if you’re eligible.
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Business and Energy Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “Today I am cutting costs even further for the most vulnerable households for years to come.”
“By making homes warmer and cheaper to live in, we are not only transforming the lives of households across England, we are creating huge growth in the economy, backing the green energy sector and supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs.”
The boost in funding has meant that £700million is available for local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of 30,000 low-income households under the Home Upgrade Grant.
These low-income households are defined as those most vulnerable to fuel poverty and it does not matter if they live in private rented or owner occupied homes.
The Social Home Decarbonisation Fund has also been boosted by £800million to allow councils and housing associations to apply for grants to help improve the energy ratings of 100,000 social homes.
The home upgrades will take place between 2023 and 2025.
The funding itself will be delegated to local councils though, so you’ll have to get in touch with yours to claim the energy efficient help.
Different local authorities will deliver the funding in different ways – so you will need to check with your council if you’re eligible.
From October 1, energy prices for a typical household will rise from £1,971 to £2,500, under the new Energy Price Guarantee.
What other energy bill help is coming?
From October the first, all households will start to receive a £400 energy bill discount.
The payment will be dished out by your energy supplier and will be split across six discounts between October and March next year.
Households will receive a £66 energy bill discount in October and November and a discount worth £67 in December, January, February and March.
In November, a £300 one-off “Pensioner Cost of Living Payment” will be paid out to eight million households.
It will be given to those who already get the winter fuel payment – which is worth between £100 and £300 for those over state pension age.
Millions of households are in line to get the £150 Warm Home Discount between December and March 2023.
Check if you can get an energy grant
There are plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling.
British Gas has recently confirmed that it’ll pay its most vulnerable customers grants worth £750 to help with sky-high bills.
The British Gas Energy Trust has previously paid struggling households up to £1,500 – and you don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for this help.
Ask your supplier what’s on offer and how to apply, or check here:
