TWO of Britain’s biggest energy suppliers are handing out free electric blankets to help struggling households cut heating bills by as much as £300 this winter.
Both firms say the move is designed to help people keep warm for less, as electric blankets cost around 2p to 4p an hour to run — far cheaper than heating an entire home, which can cost roughly £4 a day.
The offers are available nationwide through Octopus Energy and OVO Energy, which have each launched schemes aimed at supporting vulnerable customers hit hard by rising costs.
Who can apply
The free blankets are being prioritised for elderly people, those with mobility issues, and anyone whose health could suffer from cold weather.
Each company has its own application process to check eligibility.
Octopus Energy is giving away 10,000 blankets this winter reports reports GB News.
Applicants must first complete a Paylink budget form, which looks at income and expenses to determine what help they qualify for.
Decisions are usually made within seven days, and only one blanket will be given per household.
A spokesperson said the company is focusing on homes facing genuine financial hardship or medical vulnerability.
Customers who can afford to buy their own £60 blanket are urged to do so, so the free ones can go to those most in need.
Applications must include full financial details and an explanation of energy bill difficulties using the online form.
OVO’s £56m support plan
OVO Energy has launched a £56 million winter support package to help households in difficulty.
Applications opened on 1 October, offering items such as heated throws, smart plugs and home energy efficiency kits.
Since 2022, OVO has provided £190 million in support, helping 42,000 customers last year alone.
A survey commissioned by the supplier found that 91 per cent of customers worry about winter energy costs, while 71 per cent feel more anxious than last year.
Customers can check if they qualify by entering their account reference and postcode on OVO’s website.
Chief executive David Buttress said: “We’re providing support to those who need it most by working together with our charity partners and committing our largest ever customer support package.”
Stay warm safely
Research shows that people using electric blankets cut their winter bills by up to 20 per cent.
To get the best results, experts say users should preheat the blanket on high for a few minutes, then switch to a medium setting.
The connector should sit near the feet and stay uncovered.
Folding the blanket can damage the wiring and reduce efficiency.
Both energy firms remind users to follow manufacturer instructions carefully and supervise children when using them.
What other grants are available?
There are several other ways households can boost their home’s energy efficiency and save money through a variety of grants.
From insulation and boiler upgrades to modifications for disabled residents, financial assistance can cover a substantial portion of your home improvement costs.
Some grants may even cover up to £50,000 worth of home improvements.
Great British insulation scheme – £1,000s
You can get help insulating your home through the Government’s Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) if you’re not eligible under the ECO scheme.
GBIS is open to an extra 400,000 households in council tax bands A to E across England, Wales and Scotland who might not be claiming benefits.
To qualify, you must have an energy performance certificate rating of D or lower.
You could be in line for essential upgrades to your home, including roof, loft or cavity wall insulation – which could cut your annual energy bill by £100s.
Check whether you meet the eligibility criteria by visiting gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme.
Boiler upgrade scheme – £7,500
Through the boiler upgrade scheme, you could get a grant to cover part of the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating systems with a heat pump or biomass boiler.
You can get one grant per property, towards help with the following:
- £7,500 towards an air source heat pump
- £7,500 towards a ground source heat pump (including water source heat pumps and those on shared ground loops)
- £5,000 towards a biomass boiler
To qualify for this scheme you must own the property you are looking to upgrade.
You must find an MCS-certified installer to claim the grant on your behalf.
MCS is the certification scheme for energy-efficiency product installers.
You can find the nearest ones to you by visiting http://www.mcscertified.com/find-an-installer, but it is worth shopping for a few quotes.
Home upgrade grant – £1,000s
The home upgrade grant provides funding for various energy efficiency measures for homes that are not connected to the gas grid, often in rural or semi-rural areas.
To be eligible, you must own and live in the property you’re applying for and not use a mains gas boiler as your home’s main heating system.
You’ll also need an performance certificate (EPC) rating of D, E, F or G – if you do not know your home’s EPC you can find it out when you apply.
You’ll usually need to have a household income of £36,000 a year or less.
If you’re eligible, your local council will arrange a home survey to see how your home could be made more energy efficient.
What is the Energy Company Obligation scheme?
LOW-income and vulnerable families can get help improving the energy-efficiency of their homes through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme.
Under the ECO scheme, suppliers have a legal obligation to implement energy-saving measures in your home if you’re experiencing fuel poverty.
Help is offered on a case-by-case basis, but it can mean having a new boiler fitted, or loft or cavity wall insulation put in, often for free.
The cost of buying a new boiler and install is around £2,500, while loft insulation costs around £725 to install and cavity wall insulation in a mid-terrace house will set you back £1,800, according to Checkatrade.
Measures can also include the installation of heat pumps, smart thermostats and even solar panels.
These government schemes target low-income, vulnerable, and fuel-poor homes and can significantly reduce heating bills by up to £485 annually.
The ECO first launched in January 2013 and has been extended four times.
ECO4 applies to any help issued between April 1, 2022, and covers a four-year period until March 31, 2026.
You only qualify for the ECO under certain circumstances, for example if you claim certain benefits and live in private housing.
The list of benefits that could qualify you for the scheme is:
- Child tax credit
- Working tax credit
- Universal Credit
- Pension credit
- Income support
- income-based Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Child benefit
- Housing benefit
You could also be eligible if you living in social housing.
In addition to this, households also need to be living in properties with an energy efficiency rating of D-G if they own it, or E-G if they are renting from a private landlord.
To check you’re eligible and apply, you’ll need to contact your energy supplier.
