Energy

Warm Home Discount Scheme

The Warm Home Discount Scheme £150 paid direct to your supplier to help with winter energy costs. Has completely changed for Winter 2022/23. Check with your supplier to see if they offer the Warm Home Discount – not all suppliers are part of the scheme.

Core Group 1:

Those getting guarantee credit part of Pension Credit will receive a letter from the DWP to say you are receiving the £150 Warm Home Discount Scheme. The £150 will then be credited to your electricity energy account.

Core Group 2 (new for 22/23):

Those on a low income where they or their partner receives one or more of the following benefits:

• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Child Tax Credits & Working Tax Credits – household income must be below household income threshold
• Pension Credit Savings Credit

High Energy Costs


The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have a threshold to determine whether a property has high energy costs. This is not based on energy bills, but on whether the property is likely to have high energy costs due to the property type:

• floor area
• property age
• property type

You will receive a letter from DWP to say you are or are not eligible. If you are the £150 will be credited to your electricity energy account.


Those on prepayment meters
 / Traditional PPM 


Using a top up key or card that goes into the meter will receive a voucher to use at the Post Office or Paypoint.

Smart PPM


The £150 should be credited to your electric PPM remotely by your supplier.

Priority Services Register

If you find it hard to deal with your energy supply you could get extra help from your energy companies – for example, large print bills or more support during a power cut.

To get extra help, you can apply to be added to your electricity network priority services register. Your electricity network is the company that manages your electricity cables.

Your electricity network will give your details to your energy supplier so they can add you to their priority services register as well.

If you’re on these lists you’re given extra help with things like using your meter. You’re also given priority in case of an emergency, like a power cut. If you’re disabled, have a chronic illness or above a certain age, you may be eligible to be on a Priority Services Register.

You may be entitled to:

• Advance notice if your energy supply is going to be interrupted.
• Priority reconnection if your supply is interrupted (such as during a power cut).
• Alternative facilities for cooking and heating if your supply is interrupted.
• Extra help to use your meter or appliances.
• Annual gas safety checks.
• Free advice on being more energy-efficient.
• Protection from cold callers with a password protection scheme to keep you safe.
• Having your meter moved free of charge if it’s hard for you to use or read the meter.
• Regular meter readings if you can’t read your meter.
• Bills sent to a relative, carer or friend to help you check them.
• Your bills and meter readings in braille, large print, audio tape, textphone or typetalk if you’re visually impaired.
• Help during an emergency such as a power cut.

If you think you are eligible, call your energy supplier or contact us and we will be able to help you sign you up.

Check if you’re eligible

You’ll normally be able to get priority services if your energy companies class you as ‘vulnerable’. You could be classed as vulnerable

if you:

• are disabled or have a long-term health condition
• are recovering from an injury
• have mental health problems
• don’t speak or read English well
• have children under 5 or are pregnant
• have reached your State Pension age

If your situation isn’t listed, you might still be able to sign up for priority services for other reasons – for example, if you’re recently bereaved or you’ve returned to living independently after some time in residential care.

Smart Meters

What is a smart meter?

Smart Meters are a new type of meter for gas and electricity. The Government wants fuel companies to offer all homes a smart meter by the middle of 2025. They are not mandatory, you do not have to accept a smart meter if you do not want one. However, over time old meters will no longer be available and only smart meters will be installed.

Unlike traditional meters, a smart meter sends your gas and electricity readings directly to your energy supplier so you don’t have to!

Plus, smart meters enable accurate, not estimate bills – meaning, you only pay for what you use.

How can a smart meter save you money?

A smart meter could help you with your local household budgeting. The in-home display (IHD) which you’ll receive with your smart meter, shows you in near-real time the amount of energy you use in pounds and pence. Allowing you to keep a closer eye on your energy spending habits.

This could help you find ways to reduce energy waste around your home and save money. For example, you could save around £35 a year by just remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode.

How else can a smart meter help you?

A smart meter enables accurate billing, helping to take the stress out of budgeting and putting you back in control.

Tariffs are what energy suppliers charge you for your gas and electricity. The information that smart meters provide could help you to work out if you are on the right tariff or if you should change your energy supplier. You could then change to them if you want to.

Smart meters could also help you to switch to a better energy deal, as you’ll have accurate energy usage information which can help you choose the supplier and tariff that suits you best.

What if I have a prepay meter?

No problem! With a smart prepay meter, it’s easier to see what remaining credit you’ve got left using your IHD, so you can avoid the lights turning off at the most inconvenient times. You can continue to top up your meter at a shop as well as the added benefit of being able to top up by phone and by text.

I rent my home. Can I still get a smart meter?

Yes, if you pay your electricity and/or gas bills and they’re addressed to you rather than your landlord you can get a smart meter.

You don’t need your landlord’s permission to get a smart meter (although you should inform them). If you are not the bill payer, then you can ask your landlord to arrange a smart meter installation for you.

Are smart meters secure?

Yes. Both the in-home display (IHD) and the smart meter operate without the need to be connected to the internet. Rest assured, smart meters operate on a system, ensuring data is only visible to the energy supplier and authorised parties where consumer consent is given.

Top Tips to lower your energy costs

1. Turn your thermostat down


More than half of the money spent on fuel bills goes on heating and hot water. 
Heating your home between 18°C and 21°C is comfortable for most people. 
By turning your thermostat down by just one degree within this range – you might not even notice could save around £100 a year.

2. Draft Proofing


Unless your home is very new, you’ll lose some heat through draughts. Try blocking up unwanted gaps around your windows, doors and floor. You can get materials to do this, like draught-proofing strips, draught excluders and keyhole covers, from DIY stores. Draught-proofing could save you £40 a year and your home will feel warmer. Heat can escape through your chimney - draught-proofing an open chimney could save you around £50 a year.

3. Keep Radiators Clear

If you have the space, try and avoid putting a sofa in front of the radiator as this blocks the heat to the room.
Also avoid drying clothes on radiators as this can create moisture causing damp – but also your boiler will have to work harder to keep the radiator to temperature, use an airer.

4. Be Smart with Appliances & Lighting 


Looking for a quick and easy way to save money? Turn your appliances off instead of leaving them on standby could save £55 a year. Remember to turn lights off when you’re not using them – even if it’s just off for a few seconds, you’ll save more energy than it takes for the light to start up again. This could save you £20 a year. 
If it’s time to replace a lightbulb, consider going for an energy efficient LED bulb, which will cost less to run.

5. Simple savings in your Kitchen and Bathroom


You can save around £28 a year by using your washing machine on a 30-degree cycle instead of higher temperatures, and reducing use by one run a week. 
Dry your clothes on racks to save another £55 a year. 
Using a Tumble dryers for 1 hour costs 86p. 
Avoid overfilling the kettle to save a further £11 a year. 
Keeping your shower time to just four minutes could save a typical four-person household £65 a year. 
Switching to a water efficient shower head could save a four-person household with a water meter up to £95 on gas and water bills.