Help with heating costs

If you struggle to keep warm in winter you may be eligible for benefits, discounts and/or energy efficiency improvements to help with heating costs.

Priority Service Register

All energy suppliers must provide extra free services to pensioners, people who are registered disabled or have a sensory impairment and people with a long-term illness.

This may include:

• Priority reconnection if your supply is interrupted and advance notice if they have to stop your supply
• Alternative facilities for cooking and heating if your energy supply is interrupted
• Protection from bogus callers with a password protection scheme
• Arranging for your bills to be sent or copied to a relative or carer who can help you read and check them
• Moving your meter or providing controls or adaptors to make appliances easier to use
• Quarterly meter readings if you tell your supplier you can’t read it yourself

For further information contact Citizens Advice Reading on 0118 952 3022 or energy.admin@readingcab.org.uk or your current energy provider.

Winter Fuel Payment

You may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment to help towards heating costs.

Cold Weather Payment

You may be entitled to a Cold Weather Payment if the temperature falls below zero for 7 days or more in a row between 1 November and 31 March.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

If you get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or are on a low income, you could get £150 off your gas or electricity bill through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

The £400.00 Energy Bills Support Scheme Discount

The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households to help with their energy bills over winter 2022 to 2023. You do not need to apply for the discount, and there’s no need to contact your energy supplier.

The discount will be applied to your monthly household electricity bill for 6 months starting in October 2022. You’ll get:

• £66 in October and November
• £67 in December, January, February and March

You’ll get the discount monthly, even if you pay for your energy quarterly or use a payment card.

Traditional prepayment meter users will get equivalent vouchers that you will need to redeem – see if you have a traditional prepayment meter for more information.

The Energy Company Obligation

The larger energy companies are required to help households keep costs down.

Citizens Advice Reading

Dedicated energy advice appointments are available from Citizens Advice Reading. They can help you compare suppliers, get arrears under control and be more energy efficient.

Winter Watch

The Winterwatch service is available to owner occupied, private, council and housing association residents. The Winterwatch team can provide general energy saving advice to help you and your household stay safe and warm through winter. The service is open all year round. Please call Winterwatch on 0118 937 3747 to arrange support.