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This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
About this information
In this information, we tell you about the different ways you may be able to save money on your fuel costs. These include:
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Saving money on gas and electricity bills
You may be able to reduce your fuel bills by choosing a payment method which offers a discount, by efficient use of gas and electricity or by insulating your home.
Some fuel suppliers offer a discount to customers who pay their bills by direct debit, standing order, a fixed payment budget scheme or a flexible payments scheme. You should check carefully the terms of the payment schemes your fuel supplier offers.
Some electricity suppliers offer the option of not paying a standing charge, but paying a slightly higher rate for the electricity used instead. This could be a cheaper option for you, but you would need to work this out from your bills.
For more information about the different methods of payment available for paying fuel bills, see Gas supply and Electricity supply.
If you are aged 60 or over, or live with someone aged 60 or over, you may be able to get a Winter Fuel Payment to help with fuel costs over the winter.
If you are getting certain benefits, you may be able to get a Cold weather payment when the weather reaches a certain temperature.
All fuel suppliers must have a code of practice on using gas and electricity efficiently. If you ask for it, the supplier must also provide, on request, free information and advice on:-
- preventing heat loss from the home
- choosing gas or electricity heating systems and controls
- using a gas or electricity heating system efficiently
- organisations which may be able to give further advice, training and other services
- sources of possible financial help for any work which would improve the efficient use of gas or electricity.
You can also:
- visit the Energy Savings Trust Website at:
 www.est.org.uk
- contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre, on 0800 512 012
- in England, Wales and Scotland, visit the Consumer Focus website at: www.consumerfocus.org.uk, or contact Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506
- in Northern Ireland, visit the website of the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland at: www. www.consumercouncil.org.uk, or phone them on 028 9067 2488.
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Fuel prices – getting the best deal
In England, Wales and Scotland, you may be able to reduce your fuel costs by changing your fuel supplier. Many fuel companies now operate dual fuel schemes which can save you money if you buy both gas and electricity from that supplier. There may also be other schemes that operate locally or nationally.
You can find more information about changing your fuel supplier, from the website of the consumer watchdog, Consumer Focus at: www.consumerfocus.org.uk.
The Consumer Focus website also lists a number of approved, internet price comparison services. These will compare the different deals available from electricity and gas suppliers to help you find out if you could save money by switching to a new supplier. In order to compare the prices being offered by different suppliers with the price from your current supplier, you will need to calculate how much you are currently paying for your fuel each year. You can work this out by looking at your last four quarterly bills. Go to: www.consumerfocus.org.uk.
The Consumer Focus website can also give you a list of the supply companies operating in your area, together with the prices they charge.
In England, Wales and Scotland, you can get help and advice about changing your supplier by phoning Consumer Direct on 0845 404 0506. The Welsh language helpline is 0845 404 0505.
In Northern Ireland, you can get information about changing your supplier by contacting the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland on 028 9067 2488, or visit their website at: www.consumercouncil.org.uk.
For more information about gas companies, see Gas supply.
For more information about electricity companies, see Electricity supply.
If you are having problems paying your fuel bills, you should contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.
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Energy efficiency
Most households can save a substantial amount on fuel bills by using energy in an efficient way, and can be warmer and healthier as a result. Grants and discount schemes are available to help with fuel efficiency measures. Even if you have to meet some of the costs yourself, the savings on fuel bills can quickly repay the initial cost.
For more information about how to use less energy and cut your fuel bills, in England, Wales and Scotland go to the website of consumer watchdog Consumer Focus at: www.consumerfocus.org.uk. In Northern Ireland, go to www.consumercouncil.org.uk.
To get an idea of how much energy you can save in your home, you can do a home energy check. Go to the Energy Savings Trust website at: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk, or phone your local Energy Advice Saving centre on 0800 512 012.
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Grants and schemes
There are various energy efficiency schemes and grants that are available. These schemes vary across the UK and are run by a variety of organisations. The main scheme is a home energy efficiency scheme known as Warm Front in England, Warm Deal in Scotland, the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in Wales and the Warm Homes Scheme in Northern Ireland. The schemes are government funded and provide energy advice and grants to help with the costs of home insulation. They also help to improve energy efficiency for certain groups of people including those on low incomes.
The schemes cover both owner-occupiers and people renting accommodation. In some cases, the maximum grant available does not cover the full cost of the work and you have to pay something towards the costs.
Help with home insulation is also available for home-owners and private tenants through a government scheme run by eaga Insulation. The scheme provides home insulation either for free or at a low-cost price, depending on whether you are getting certain benefits. You can find out more about the home insulation scheme from the eaga website at: www.eagainsulation.com.
You may also be able to apply to the local authority for a grant, loan or other type of help for home improvements.
In England and Wales, for more information about home improvements, see Help with home improvements.
In Scotland, for more information about home improvements, see Housing grants.
You can contact your local Energy Advice Saving centre for information on energy savings schemes and grants. You can find your local centre on freefone 0800 512 012 or the Energy Savings Trust website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk. You can also search for local grants and offers in your area on the Energy Savings Trust website at: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk. Many independent fuel companies and local authorities operate grants and schemes and also provide energy efficiency advice. Grants can be given for work connected to any energy saving measures, including, in some circumstances, for providing gas or electric central heating. Grants can also be given for low-energy light bulbs. In some circumstances and in areas of high risk of crime, security improvements like door and window locks may also be provided.
Warm Front scheme in England
The Warm Front scheme is run by a company called eaga. Eaga is known as the scheme manager.
What does the Warm Front Scheme cover
You can apply to the Warm Front scheme for a grant to carry out one or more of the following:
- insulation measures, for example, cavity wall insulation, loft, tank and pipe insulation, draught-proofing of windows and doors, ventilation, hot water tank jackets
- space and water heating improvements, for example, gas room heaters with thermostatic controls, electric storage heaters, closed solid fuel fire cassettes, immersion water heaters, timer controls for electric space and water heaters
- improvement to the energy efficiency, repair or replacement of any part of any space or water heating system
- providing gas, solid fuel or oil central heating systems (including systems which generate electricity), conversion of open solid fuel room fires to closed solid fuel room fires, providing central heating systems connected to the local community heating grid
- providing space or water heating systems which use energy from renewable sources
- energy advice and energy saving light bulbs.
Who can get a Warm Front grant
To qualify for a Warm Front grant, you must meet certain conditions. You will be able to get a Warm Front grant if you:
- own your own property. Some tenants may also be entitled to a Warm Front grant
- have a child under 16 and are getting Child Benefit or have a maternity certificate, and getting one of more of the following - Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Pension Credit
- are getting one or more of the following - Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which includes Constant Attendance Allowance), or War Disablement Pension (which must include the mobility or Constant Attendance Allowance)
- are getting one or more of the following - Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, when they include a disability premium
- are 60 or over, and getting Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit
- in some circumstances, are getting Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. You should contact eaga to find out whether you qualify
If you don't qualify for a Warm Front grant under any of these conditions you, you will still be able to get a grant under the heating rebate scheme if you are 60 or over, or live with a partner aged 60 or over.
How much is the Warm Front grant
The maximum Warm Front grant is £2,700, or £4,000 if oil-fired central heating is to be installed.
Landlords may be entitled to a Landlord's Energy Saving Allowance of up to £1,500 a property if they carry out certain energy saving improvements. Landlords, should contact their local tax office for more information.
Landlords aren't allowed to raise the rent on properties which have benefited from a Warm Front grant for a set period after the completion of the works. If your landlord attempts to do this, you should get help from an experienced adviser, for example, at your local Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by e-mail, click on nearest CAB.
How to apply for a Warm Front grant
You can get more information about the Warm Front and details about how to apply by going to the Warm Front website at: www.warmfront.co.uk, or by calling eaga on freephone 0800 316 2805.
Heating rebate scheme in England
If you don't qualify for getting a Warm Front grant, you may be able to get a grant under the heating rebate scheme instead. You need to be 60 or over, or live with a partner aged 60.
The maximum grant under the heating rebate scheme is £300. To qualify, you must have either no central heating system or one which is not working. The rebate can be used for gas, electric or solid fuel installations or repairs. For more information, go to the Warm Front website at: www.warmfront.co.uk/heating-rebate-scheme.htm.
The Home Energy Efficiency Scheme in Wales
In Wales, you are eligible for a Home Energy Efficiency Scheme (HEES) grant if you are in a household with a child under 16 and getting Child Benefit, or have a maternity certificate, and you are getting one or more of the following:
- Income Support
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
An enhanced grant, called Home Energy Efficiency Scheme Plus is also available if you are:
- 80 years old or over, or live with someone aged 80 or over
- 60 years old or over, or live with someone aged 60 or over and get Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-related ESA, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, or Pension Credit
- in a household in which someone is getting certain disability related benefits, or a benefit such as Income Support or Housing Benefit which includes a disability premium or element
- a single parent getting Child Benefit and Income Support, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- getting Working Tax Credit (with income less than £15,460).
The maximum enhanced grant is £3,600.
All owner-occupiers over 60 in Wales may be able to get a grant of £500 to contribute towards the cost of home energy efficiency work. This is called a partial grant.
The Warm Deal Grant in Scotland
In Scotland, you may be able to get the Warm Deal Grant if you are an owner or tenant in private sector housing and getting certain welfare benefits. You may also be able to get a Grant if you are over 60. The Grant is for fitting insulation to help make your home more energy efficient. The maximum grant is £500.
For more information about the Warm Deal Grant and who may be entitled to get it, see The Warm Deal Grant.
The Scottish Government Central heating programme
In Scotland, you may be able to benefit from free central heating and home insulation under the Scottish Government Central Heating Programme. This covers owner occupiers and tenants of private landlords.
To find out more about the central heating programme in Scotland, see The Scottish Government Central Heating Programme.
The Warm Homes Grant in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, you are eligible to receive a new Warm Homes grant if you or your spouse are:
- householders with a child under 16 and getting one or more of these benefits: Income Support, Housing Benefit, Rate Rebate or income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- householders with a child under 16 in receipt of a maternity certificate and one or more of these benefits: Housing Benefit, Rate Rebate, Income Support or income based Job Seeker’s Allowance
- householders getting one or more of these benefits, when they include a disability premium: Income Support, Housing Benefit or Rate Rebate
- householders getting one or more of these benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit which must include constant care allowance or a war disablement pension with either Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement
- householders getting Working Tax Credit with an NHS exemption certificate.
The maximum Warm Homes grant is £850.
There is an enhanced grant, called Warm Homes Plus. The maximum amount for this is £4,300. It is available to householders aged 60 or over, who receive one or more of the following:
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Rate Rebate
- income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Working Tax Credit which includes a disability element
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit which either includes Constant Attendance Allowance or the mobility supplement.
For more information about the Warm Homes grant in Northern Ireland, go to: www.eaga.com.
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Fuel bills – getting help in winter
Winter Fuel Payments
If you are 60 or over, you can get a Winter Fuel Payment to help with your fuel costs. The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free payment paid every year over the winter months. However, it does not matter how you use the money, and the payment does not depend on how cold the weather gets. There are other payments that are only paid when the weather reaches a certain temperature, called cold weather payments. These are made to people on some income related benefits during cold weather. You may be able to get a cold weather payment as well as a Winter Fuel Payment.
Who can get a Winter Fuel Payment
You can get a Winter Fuel Payment if you are 60 or over in ‘the qualifying week’ for the winter concerned. The qualifying week always begins on the third Monday of September. You must live in the UK to get a Winter Fuel Payment and there must be no immigration conditions on your stay here.
There are some people who cannot get a payment even if they are over 60. For example, you will not get a Winter Fuel Payment if you are in hospital, during the qualifying week (and have been there for over a year), and some people living in a care home don't qualify.
For more details about people who cannot get a Winter Fuel Payment, see Benefits for people over sixty.
How much is a Winter Fuel Payment
The rate of the Winter Fuel Payment is usually announced in the summer before the qualifying week in September.
For the winter of 2007/08 the Winter Fuel Payment was £200 per household (£300 where you or your partner were aged 80 or over). For the winter of 2008/09, the Winter Fuel Payment is £250 per household (£400 where you or your partner are aged 80 or over).
If you live in a care home, you get a reduced rate of Winter Fuel Payment. In 2007/08, this was £100, or £150 if you were 80 or over. In 2008/09, this is £125 or £200 if you are 80 or over. However, if you live in a care home and get Pension Credit or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, you will not get a Winter Fuel Payment at all.
If you are not sure whether you can get a Winter Fuel Payment, or which rate you are entitled to, you should consult an experienced adviser, for example, at a Citizens Advice Bureau. To search for details of your nearest CAB, including those that can give advice by email, click on nearest CAB.
How to get a Winter Fuel Payment
Most people who are entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment do not need to make a claim. You will automatically get a payment if you get Retirement Pension, Pension Credit, or one of a number of other benefits in the qualifying week.
For a full list of people who can get a Winter Fuel Payment without needing to make a claim, see Benefits for people over sixty.
If you do need to make a claim for a Winter Fuel Payment, you can get a claim form from the website www.thepensionservice.gov.uk or from the Winter Fuel Payments helpline on 0845 915 1515 (text phone 0845 601 5613). You can also use this helpline for any queries you have about Winter Fuel Payments, or to find out what is happening if you are expecting a payment and it is late.
Cold weather payments
If you're on a low income, you may be able to get a cold weather payment to help with your fuel costs during periods of cold weather.
However, it does not matter what you spend the money on, and cold weather payments do not have to be repaid.
Payments are made when the weather station linked to your area forecasts or records an average daily temperature of 0 degrees centigrade or less for seven days in a row.
Cold weather payments are different from Winter Fuel Payments which are made every winter to people over 60 regardless of the temperature.
If you are entitled to cold weather payments, you will automatically be sent £8.50 for each period of cold weather.
For more information about cold weather payments, including who is entitled to get them, see Help for people on a low income - the Social Fund.
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Fuel arrears – getting help
In England, Wales and Scotland, if you're in arrears with your gas or electricity, you may be able to get help from your fuel supplier.
Some energy suppliers have set up independent charitable trusts which give grants to some of their customers to help them pay for fuel arrears. You may also be able to get grants to pay for other household bills.
To find out if you can get help, visit the British Gas Energy Trust website at: www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk or the EDF Energy Trust website at: www.edfenergytrust.org.uk.
In England, Wales and Scotland, for more information about fuel arrears, see Gas and electricity arrears, in Credit and debt fact sheets.
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Who can help
The Energy Saving Trust
The Energy Saving Trust can assess your needs and offer advice on all aspects of energy efficiency. They can also offer advice on grants or schemes available in your area.
To contact your local Energy Saving Trust advice centre, call (freephone) 0800 512 012, or go to www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
Consumer Direct
Consumer Direct can give you help and advice about changing your energy supplier.
Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service, supported by the Office of Fair Trading and local authority Trading Standards services. It is available in England, Scotland and Wales.
The advice and information is free, but telephone calls to Consumer Direct are charged at 0845 prices.
Tel: 0845 404 0506 or 0845 404 0505 for the Welsh language helpline
Website: www.consumerdirect.org.uk
Consumer Focus
In England, Wales and Scotland, Consumer Focus is the consumer watchdog responsible for protecting the interests of electricity and gas consumers.
The Consumer Focus website has information about:
- changing your fuel supplier
- which supply companies operate in your area and the prices they charge
- price comparison services
- how to use less energy and cut your fuel bills.
Go to: www.consumerfocus.org.uk.
Consumer Council for Northern Ireland
The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland can give you information and advice about changing your fuel supplier. You can contact them on: 028 9067 2488, or visit their website at: www.consumercouncil.org.uk.
Age Concern
Age Concern produce a number of useful factsheets including 'Help with heating' and can offer telephone advice for older people. In England, you can contact them on freephone number 0800 00 99 66 or by visiting their website at www.ageconcern.org.uk. In Scotland, contact them on 0131 467 7118 or at www.ageconcernscotland.org.uk.
The Home Heat Helpline
The Home Heat Helpline offers advice on energy efficiency and fuel debts to customers who are having difficulty heating their homes or paying their bills. The helpline can give you help and advice on identifying energy efficiency grants, arranging alternative payment methods, carrying out benefits checks and getting specialist advice. You can contact the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.
Gas and electricity suppliers
All suppliers of gas and electricity have to provide information on energy saving measures as a condition of trading. For more information, contact your fuel supplier and ask them about the energy advice offered. You can find details of gas and electricity suppliers on the Consumer Focus website at: www.consumerfocus.org.uk.
For more information about gas suppliers, see Gas supply.
For more information about electricity suppliers, see Electricity supply.
Help for disabled customers
If you're disabled, you may be able to get a disabled facilities grant to improve your heating system. You may also be able to get a grant or some other form of assistance from your local authority to help with home insulation.
For more information about disabled facilities grants, in England and Wales see Help with home improvements and, in Scotland, see Home improvement schemes.
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