A MAJOR energy firm will give hard-up households up to £1,700 to help pay off their energy debts – and you don’t have to be a customer to apply.
British Gas Energy Trust’s Individuals and Families Fund is accepting applications for those struggling with energy debt.
The scheme was set up in 2021 to help households struggling with energy debt.
However, unlike other energy supplier grants, the support is available to both British Gas and non-British Gas customers.
The firm has said that pre-payment meter customers struggling with their bills can now apply for a debt relief grant.
To qualify for the support you must have received money advice within the last six months and have debt between £50 and £1,700 on a prepayment meter.
You will not qualify if you received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the last two years.
To apply you can visit, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/grants-available.
It comes as thousands of households have been warned of rising costs due to conflict in the Middle East.
Resolution Foundation warned that household bills could top £2,100 in July, if the conflict continues to damage energy supplies.
The think tank said that even in the best case scenario where oil prices return to more stable levels in the coming days, bills could still rise by £130.
The prediction is based on Ofgem’s energy price cap, which limits the amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and energy.
Chancellor Reeves has previously said any support over energy price hikes will be targeted at those who need it.
The Iran war has raised concerns about the production of oil and shipping.
Concerns about blockages to the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route which lies between Oman and Iran, are also driving prices higher.
How to save on your energy bills
SWITCHING energy providers can sound like a hassle – but fortunately it’s pretty straight forward to change supplier – and save lots of cash.
Shop around – If you’re on an standard variable tariff you are likely to be throwing away over £200 a year.
Simply use a comparison site such as MoneySuperMarket.com, uSwitch or EnergyHelpline.com to see what deals are available to you.
The cheapest deals are usually found online and are fixed deals – meaning you’ll pay a fixed amount usually for 12 months.
Switch – When you’ve found one, all you have to do is contact the new supplier.
It helps to have the following information – which you can find on your bill – to give the new supplier.
- Your postcode
- Name of your existing supplier
- Name of your existing deal and how much you pay
- An up-to-date meter reading
It will then notify your current supplier and begin the switch.
It should take no longer than three weeks to complete the switch and your supply won’t be interrupted in that time.
