Here to help with energy bills this winter

8th November 2024.

The higher cost of living in the UK has created financial difficulty for many people. And we want to do whatever we can to help this winter.

The British Gas Energy Support Fund re-opened for new applications from 4^th November to provide grants of up to £2,000 to customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills. The fund is available to eligible British Gas customers with pre-payment or credit accounts.

We’ve committed £140 million¹ to help customers since the start of the energy crisis and we continue to provide the biggest support package ever offered to UK energy customers by an energy supplier. This is on top of the funding we already make available to all energy customers, (not just British Gas customers) via the British Gas Energy Trust.

Support has included grants to cover energy debts for customers and small businesses, non-repayable credit to prepayment customers and funding for advice centres and charities.

This winter, households can visit their Post Office Money and Energy Support Pop Ups where advisors will be on-site to provide an in-depth overview of the support available, signpost people to local organisations for ongoing support, check for benefits entitlements and provide free energy-saving tips and advice.

We’re also writing to two million customers who are at or approaching pension age to encourage take up of Pension Credit.

Energy Support Fund

We set up this fund to help our most in need customers. If you’re finding it tough to pay your energy bills and have a debt of at least £50 as a pre-payment customer or £250 as a credit customer, you could be awarded a grant to help with this.

Am I eligible for a grant?

To be eligible to apply you must:

• Be a British Gas credit or pre-payment meter energy customer living in England, Scotland or Wales
• Have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last 12 months
• Be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open energy account in your name which must relate to your main residence
• Have a minimum energy debt of £50 as a pre-payment customer, or £250 as a credit customer and a maximum debt of £2,000
• Have received money advice help within the last 6 months
• Be in or facing fuel poverty

How do I apply for a grant, and what happens after I apply?

Here's a rundown of how it works:

• The fund is administered by the British Gas Energy Trust so you’ll need to apply on their website
• This is an independent charitable trust², solely funded by British Gas and set up to support customers and households  facing financial hardship and fuel poverty across England, Scotland and Wales
• They’ll ask to see proof of household income, including all of the adults you live with, details of any savings and a meter reading of your gas and electricity account
• The British Gas Energy Trust will check applications against an existing set of criteria to identify those most in need of additional support

Difficulty paying bills – talk to us first?

The last thing we want is for anyone to struggle paying their energy bills. Especially during the colder months when you need to keep warm. We can work with you on a payment plan that suits your needs and budget and help make life that little bit easier.

Other ways we can help

If you’re not eligible for the Energy Support Fund, then there are still ways we can help.

The British Gas Energy Trust provides access to various resources and free advice-giving organisations across England, Scotland and Wales. You can speak to a trained advisor for free, online or by phone, and get some really useful help.

Need more help? Try these organisations

• Money Advice Service (or call 0800 138 7777)
• National Debtline (or call 0808 808 4000)
• Citizens Advice (or call 0808 223 1133) or Citizens Advice Scotland or Citizens Advice Wales
• StepChange Debt Charity (or call 0800 138 1111)

Tips to lower your energy bills this winter

The days are getting colder. The nights get dark earlier. Which means many of us are leaving lights on for longer and cranking up the heating (as well as putting it on earlier too!). This can all impact your energy bill. So to help you keep your energy costs in check this winter, check out our top energy saving tips.

Read more helpful information and blogs on The Source