Help with bills (gas, electric, water, phone and broadband)
If you get a message asking for your bank details, this could be a scam. You can report messages you think are suspicious.
Energy Price Guarantee
From 1 October 2022, a new ‘Energy Price Guarantee’ will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas for UK households. This is automatic and applies to all households.
Beware of scams: there is no need to apply and you will never be asked for bank details.
This is in addition to the £400 energy bills discount for all households.
Find out more about the Energy Price Guarantee
Getting a discount on your energy bill
The Energy Bill Support Scheme gave every household a £400 discount on their energy bills for winter 2022 to 2023. This ended in March 2023.
On a traditional prepayment meter? Don’t miss out on government energy bills support!
You are entitled to government support with your energy costs. This includes £400 off your October 2022 to March 2023 energy bills, which you do not need to repay.
You will receive the support in the form of vouchers from your energy supplier. Your supplier will tell you where to redeem the vouchers (take valid ID with you).
Yet to receive or claim your vouchers yet?
- check that your energy supplier has your up to date contact details
- check your post, texts, emails for your Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers
- make sure you use the vouchers within 90 days
If you have not received your payment, your supplier can reissue the vouchers. The deadline to redeem vouchers is June 2023.
Other support available
If you're struggling to pay for energy or think you may get into difficulty, contact your supplier through Ofgem.
There are many schemes which can help you save money on energy bills. The energy regulator, Ofgem provides information about support you can get if you have a low income or you are over 67 years old.
- This autumn nearly three million low-income households are eligible for a £150 rebate on their winter electricity bills. The scheme will reopen again in October 2023. Check with your energy supplier to see if you are eligible for the Warm Home Discount
- You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest. You’ll get £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. The 2023 to 2024 scheme will start on 1 November 2023.
Citizens Advice also has a range of useful guides and information, including one about getting help with paying energy bills.
There are several simple, quick things you could do that could help you to save on your energy bills now, as well as some home improvements to could reduce your bills in the long term.
If you own a property you can use the GOV.UK energy efficiency calculator to get recommendations for home improvements that could make your property cheaper to heat and keep warm.
For each recommendation you can see:
- an estimated cost of making the improvement
- how much you could save on your bills
- next steps if you want to make the improvement
Other ways to save energy
- Help for Households energy saving tips
- Energy saving tips from the Energy Saving Trust
- Your home energy checklist (pdf) from National Energy Action (NEA)
Understand your electricity consumption around the home (pdf). This includes:
- how much appliances cost to run
- where you might be able to make savings
Energy advice and grants
Homeowners and tenants who receive benefits, are on a low income or have long term health issues, may be entitled to grant funding to help improve the overall energy efficiency for their property. Find out more about energy advice and grants.
If you’re struggling to pay your water bill, you can get free water saving devices and advice from your water supplier to help you save money on your bill. To find out water saving tips, visit your water supplier’s website:
You may also be eligible for support from your water supplier to help pay your water bill.
Citizens Advice has some useful guidance about how to speak to your water supplier if you’re having problems paying your water bill.
WaterSure
WaterSure is a scheme which helps some people with their water bills. If you're on benefits and need to use a lot of water either for medical reasons, or because your household has a certain number of school-age children, you may be able to apply.
You'll need to be on a water meter or be waiting to have one installed. Check your eligibility at Citizen’s Advice - WaterSure scheme.
If you're having difficulty paying for phone or broadband you should speak to your provider.
Some broadband providers offer cheaper broadband and phone packages (called 'social tariffs') for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other benefits.
Broadband social tariffs are delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price.
For a list of available tariffs and to find out if you’re eligible, visit the Ofcom website.
You may be able to get a free TV licence if you’re aged over 75 and:
- claiming Pension Credit
- you live in a care home
- you're blind