MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry shares how you can save on your winter energy bills with freebies and smart moves
Keeping warm in winter is a concern for many people as the nights get colder and energy costs feel prohibitively expensive.
Being told to manage your money better doesn’t help when there simply isn’t enough in the budget to begin with!
The good news is there is help out there, from free electric blankets to one-off credits to your energy account. Here’s where to find help with your energy bills so you don’t have to worry about keeping warm.
Free electric blankets
Two energy suppliers are offering a free electric blanket to their customers most in need this winter. An electric blanket or electric throw costs just pennies to run, and means you don’t need to run costly central heating for several hours a day.
Octopus customers can claim through the website. You’ll need to create a budget as part of your application, which will also flag up if you are eligible for other assistance such as additional help with your bills or reduction or removal of your energy debt.
The other company offering free electric blankets is Ovo Energy. Customers will need to apply via the Ovo Energy extra support website. As well as electric blankets, customers may receive other gadgets like smart sockets and home efficiency kits to help reduce energy use and save money on bills.
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a Government scheme that offers households most in need a £150 discount on their winter energy bills. The scheme reopens in October and runs to March each year. It is available to people with smart meters, manual meters, and pre-paid or pay-as-you go meters, with an additional scheme run by Charis Grants for those living in park homes.
If you live in England, you’re eligible if you receive the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit or you’re on a low income with high energy costs (such as if you’re in receipt of Universal Credit and/or use more electricity due to a disability).
In Scotland, the eligibility criteria are the same but there may be additional ones set by your supplier. Contact your energy supplier to find out more.
Energy debt help
If you have run up energy debt because your bills are too high for you to pay, talk this over with your supplier. There is financial help available for people struggling to pay their energy bills.
Suppliers have the ability to reduce or wipe energy debt for some people in difficult financial circumstances. Get in touch with your energy supplier as soon as you begin to have problems paying, as it will stop large debts from building up and causing stress.
Use free energy hours
Some energy suppliers run schemes that help customers plan ahead for their additional energy use. This can help you save money if you are savvy about when you use your large appliances, charge batteries and more throughout the week.
EDF’s Sunday Saver Scheme gives customers up to 16 hours of free energy on Sundays. It works by rewarding your reduced energy usage between Monday and Friday, 4pm to 7pm.
If you reduce usage by 5%, you get four free hours on Sundays, by 20% it’s eight free hours, and 35% for 12 free hours of energy. To get the full 16 hours of free energy on Sundays, you need to cut your midweek early evening average by 50%.
This scheme is ideal for two reasons. Not only could you benefit from significantly less energy charged on Sundays, it can also help you to reduce your usage overall.
If you have an off-peak tariff, make the most of this by using smart switches to turn on charging blocks overnight instead of during those peak 4pm – 7pm hours, or pause your washing machine or tumble dryer until off-peak times to reduce your usage and how much it costs to run.
Octopus is another energy supplier offering free usage. Sign up for alerts and you will be sent an email warning you when the next free energy hours will be coming up in the following day or so.
You aren’t charged for anything over your usual average use in these hours, so if you plan ahead you can get free energy to use your electricity-heavy appliances or batch cook your meal prep for the week.
Where to get more financial help
Jasmine Birtles, Founder of MoneyMagpie, says; “While the lack of money in our wallets at the end of each month is a growing concern for many, there are lots of places to get help. The first step is to ask for help: there is no shame in being in debt or having financial worries.
“Having someone to talk through your challenges can help you form a plan, whether that’s speaking with your energy supplier about debt assistance on offer or asking a friend to help you apply for grants you’ve found on the Turn2Us grant finder.”
The first step is to speak to your energy supplier and find out how to apply for financial help with your energy bills. Use the Turn2Us grant finder to find extra grants you might be eligible for, too.
If your debt or financial worries extend beyond paying for energy bills, contact a debt charity like Stepchange or National Debtline who can help you navigate the right way out of debt based on your personal circumstances.
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