Information on what you can do if you are struggling with your energy and utility bills
Energy schemes and how to apply
If you can’t pay your bill, your supplier should normally be the place to start. Each should have its own help scheme. This page lists some other schemes that might give you some extra help.
Fuel vouchers
You may be entitled to a free gas and electricity voucher if you are struggling to keep up with your energy bill payments and use a prepayment meter to top up your fuel. If you rely on oil, LPG, coal or wood you may also be able to get help.
How to claim a fuel voucher:
In order to qualify for a voucher you will need to go to a food bank, the Norfolk County Council Hardship Service or the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. Ask any of these for more details.
You will typically need to meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Be in receipt of income-related benefits.
- Have no cash savings.
- Have children under your care within the household.
- Have a certain disability.
- Be of pension age
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
Oil buying
Community Action Norfolk runs a group buying scheme to keep down the cost of buying oil, called Thinking Fuel. It’s free to register.
Some local oil companies will sell smaller amounts of oil to tide you over until you can afford a bigger purchase. Ask your local company if they offer this service. It’s important to know that although this can help as a short-term measure, you will almost certainly pay more per litre for buying this way.
Lead-in times for oil deliveries are increasing so make sure you order in good time as it’s very bad for your system to let the system run dry.
Grants to pay off energy debts
If you are in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant to help pay it off.
How to claim an energy debt grant:
Citizen’s Advice has a lot of information about help with energy bills on their website. If you look at their ‘Grants and benefits to help you pay your energy bills’ page, scroll down to the section on ‘Grants to help pay off your energy debts’ where there is a list of suppliers that offer grants and links to their website.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
You could get £150 off your electricity bill for the winter period (2023/24) under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. It’s a one-off discount applied to your electricity bill between early October 2023 and 31 March 2024.
If you might be eligible, you’ll get a letter by early January 2024. To be eligible, you must get the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit or you must be on a low income and have high energy costs.
If you do not get a letter and you think you’re eligible, you must contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme before 29 February 2024. Call 0800 030 9322.
If you live in a park home, the scheme works differently and you must apply through the Charis website. Charis are the Government’s chosen provider to administer this scheme.
Energy efficiency grants
There are several Government grant schemes that could pay for some or all of the cost of making your home more energy efficient, which will lower your bills.
Find out more on our Energy Efficiency Assistance Schemes page.
Energy Price Guarantee
The Government announced a cap on prices for electricity and gas from 1 October to 31 December 2023. You won’t pay more than 27p per kilowatt hour for electricity and 7p per kWh for gas. To put this in context, the Government estimates that this means an average household with average consumption should not pay more than £1,834 per year.
How to claim the guaranteed energy price:
The price guarantee is built into your bill so you do not need to claim.
4 low cost, easy DIY install products can help save money on your energy bills
Widely available in DIY shops and online. For people who are struggling with cost of living, we can provide these products for them. We are contacting people who we have already helped recently through the Household Support Fund.
How to apply:
People can email hsf@west-norfolk.gov.uk if they would like to apply for all of any of the items.
- Radiator reflectors
- Hot water tank jacket
- Draught excluder tape
- Low-energy light bulbs
Further info can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website Energy Saving Trust.
Anglian Water scheme and how to apply
Anglian Water can help with payment options and also has a range of different tariffs, depending on your situation. They offer discounted tariffs, assistance schemes and affordable payment plans. See the Anglian Water Extra Care Support pages for more details.
If your water is metered, you can save money by using less. Anglian Water offers a free water-saving bathroom kit that will help you save water every day. It includes a digital shower timer, cistern bag to reduce the amount of water in each toilet flush, and leaky loo tablets. These can be ordered through the Anglian Water website.
For people who need extra support they have a Priority Services Register. Find out how to get on the register at www.anglianwater.co.uk/priority or call 0800 232 1951. BSL users should go to www.anglianwater.co.uk/bsl.