Six energy firms handing out free bill credit worth up to £250 to millions

MANY households will be feeling anxious about rising energy bills this winter - but there is help out there for those who are struggling.

Ofgem's latest price cap came into effect at the start of the month, with yearly energy costs to rise to £1,738.

This means the typical energy bill will rise by £21 on average - however, prices can vary depending on how much energy you use.

The rise in the price cap will be a blow to hardup households battling the cost of living, particularly during the colder months.

For homeowners in this position, there is help out there and several energy suppliers offer free bill credit to assist those who are struggling.

We've rounded up the companies who are offering free credit to hard-up customers and how you can claim it.

British Gas - £250

Thousands of British Gas customers can get up to £250 in free credit.

The support is only available to customers who pay for their energy bills through a prepayment meter.

It is a discretionary payment of credit up to £250 for those struggling with energy costs.

That means it's up to British Gas to decide who gets the help, and not everyone on a prepayment meter will be eligible.

The credit will be added to eligible customers' prepayment meters over the next month British Gas said.

Customers don't need to contact the company to apply for the help.

Those who are eligible and need it will be identified and provided with this support.

Octopus energy - up to £20

Octopus Energy offers £10 emergency credit on electricity and £20 on gas for pre-payment customers.

If you have a smart prepayment meter, the emergency credit can be activated on the home display.

Meanwhile, those with traditional prepayment meters can get £10 on their electricity meters and £20 on their gas meters.

The emergency credit will then be taken off the balance the next time the customer goes to top up.

Scottish Power - £30

Scottish Power offers an emergency credit option for prepayment meter customers.

This stands at £10 during the summer months and rises to £30 during the winter.

The credit is built into you meter meaning you do not need to apply for the service.

However you have to pay back the credit if you happen to use it.

OVO - £15

Last year, OVO energy raised its emerncey credit rate from £5 to £15.

The group confirmed that it keeping the emergency credit at the increased amount.

It can be used on Pay As You Go meters if a customer runs out of credit or is unable to top up. 

The credit is repaid when you next top up.

OVO also said that it offering free energy saving products including electric throws, mattress toppers, and home efficiency kits to srtuggling households.

You can apply for this service through the OVO website, where you'll need to provide details like your monthly disposable income, meter readings, and account information.

Utilita- £100

Utilita cusomers could get up to £60 of gas and £40 of electricity credit and can choose how to pay it back.

To be eligible you must have less than £2 credit in your account, a meter that communicates correctly and below £20 debt on the energy supply you need to top up.

You cannot get the credit if:

• You still have credit available on your meter
• You have more than £50 debt on a meter
• You requested a Power Up for your other meter more than 10 hours ago
• You have requested an account credit from the Extra Care team over the phone
• You do not have a smart meter
• Utilita cannot communicate with your smart meter

To apply you must download the My Utilita app.

You can apply for Power Up from the Home or Payments screen in the app.

EDF - £10

EDF's pre-payment customers can get access to £10 of emergency credit.

You can use the credit when the balance on your meter drops to 50p or less.

Your meter should beep and there should be a flashing “e” on the screen.

It will also give you £10 of emergency credit on your gas prepayment meter. To pay it back just top up your key as normal.

The supplier has invested £29 million in a range of initiatives, including debt matching and write offs, as well as providing free energy-saving gadgets.

Debt matching allows struggling customers to get part of their balance wiped.

For instance, if a customer pays £100, EDF Energy will pay off £100, too, effectively wiping half the amount owed and getting them back on track sooner.

British Gas, E.ON Next, Utiltiy Warehouse andOcotopus also offers a similar schemes for hard-up customers

If you are intrested in reading more about the schemes, click the link here.

OTHER WAYS TO GET ENERGY SUPPORT

There are plenty of schemes and grants to support households this winter.

For example, struggling households can apply for support via the Household Support Fund (HSF) to get vouchers or grants for money of their bills.

The scheme, which is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, was first launched in 2021 but has been extended many times.

However, what you're able to access depends on whereabouts you live, and the money will either be given to you as a direct cash transfer, shopping vouchers or in another form.

To find out what you may be eligible for, visit your local council's website.

Elsewhere, the Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill.

If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will usually apply the discount to your bill, or you may be sent a voucher if you have an prepayment meter.

Applications for the scheme opened in October, however, you may not get the help until next March.

To qualify you'll usually need to be actively claiming one of a number of means-tested benefits during the qualifying week - which is usually in August.

However, if you later launch a successful claim for backdated benefits, you may still be able to qualify after this date and once it's confirmed.

If you qualify for the WHD, you should receive a letter telling you. These are usually sent between October and January.