The Energy Bills Support Scheme will provide the majority of households with a £400 credit this winter.

Consumers expect to receive the first payment through a letter in the coming weeks.

Through the expansion of the Energy Bills Support Scheme, all domestic electricity customers will see a £400 reduction in their bills (EBSS). Only 1% of households do not qualify for the discount.

For households without a domestic electricity metre and a direct relationship with an electricity supplier – for instance, if you live in a park home, houseboat, or off-grid – the government has confirmed that additional funding will be available to provide £400 in energy bill assistance.

You need not apply for the discount, nor should you contact your energy provider. Beginning in October 2022, the discount will be applied to your monthly electricity bill for six months. You will receive the monthly discount if you pay quarterly or with a credit card. This is how the discount will be applied:

  • October – £66
  • November – £66
  • December – £67
  • January – £67
  • February – £67
  • March – £67

Contact your individual supplier if you have not received your first instalment by the end of October 2022.

Direct Debit clients

This is how the discoutn will be applied:

  • A reduction to your automatic monthly debit
  • A bank account credit after the monthly direct debit collection

Traditional customers who pay in advance

Users of conventional prepayment metres will receive equivalent vouchers that must be redeemed. If you have a conventional prepayment metre, you will receive the discount beginning the first week of every month. The discount will be applied automatically in one of the following ways:

  • Sending redeemable vouchers via SMS, email, or mail.
  • Credit is automatically applied when you reload at your usual location.

Your electricity provider will inform you how to receive your discount. Your supplier should have your contact information, but if you’re unsure or don’t hear from them, you should verify that they have your current phone number and email address.

If you receive vouchers, you must redeem them at a pop-up location. Your energy supplier will tell you where you can redeem them, such as a Post Office or PayPoint location. Payzone locations cannot accept vouchers.

Intelligent Prepayment customers

Each month in the first week, your discount will be credited directly to your smart prepayment metre.

Customers with standard credit or payment cards

A discount will be automatically applied as a credit to your account in the first week of the month. The credit will appear as if a payment has been made.

If you pay for electricity as a part of your rent

If your landlord has a residential electricity contract with a licenced electricity provider and you pay for your electric as part of your rent, your landlord may pass along their discount. In this case, your landlord may be reselling the electricity to you based on your usage:

  • They must adhere to the maximum resale price regulations, which stipulate that they cannot make a profit.
  • Currently, the maximum resale price for electricity is the same as the price paid by the person reselling it (see Ofgem’s guidance to ensure customers are not overcharged).
  • Your landlord may charge an “all-inclusive” rent, wherein a fixed energy usage cost is included in your rental fees.

They are encouraged to negotiate a discount with you following the terms of your rental agreement. The landlord’s fixed charge may already offer comparable protection against the impact of energy price increases.