Help if you’re struggling to pay your energy bills

If, like many people currently, you are struggling to pay your energy bills, we suggest you take the following steps:

• contact your energy company as soon as possible to let them know that you hare having difficulty paying the bills, and start a dialogue. This applies whether you are facing ‘self-disconnection’ i.e. not able to pay for your top-ups if on a meter, or are unable to afford to pay the bills you are being sent.  They have an obligation to help you, so tell them as soon as possible. Citizens’ Advice has useful information about requesting temporary credit if you are unable to top up your pre-payment meter, as well as guidelines for agreeing a payment plan with your supplier if you are struggling to make the payments they are requesting.

• check the hardship funds available through the majority of the energy companies, as well as British Gas’s which is open to all:

  British Gas Energy Trust

  EDF Energy Customer Support Fund

  E.on Energy Fund

  E.on Next Energy Fund

  Shell Energy Helpfund

  Ovo Energy Customer Support Package

  Npower Energy Fund

  Octo Assist Fund

  Scottish Power Hardship Fund

  Utility Warehouse
  

• check if there are any grants you can apply for through other charities or foundations - our article on this topic has further information

• make sure you are aware of your rights and check if there are any other actions you can take at this stage - Fuel Poverty Action has produced a helpful guide on this topic.

• if you are in debt (because of your fuel bills, or for any other reason), don’t delay - get in touch with a debt advice agency right away. They can help you to address the issue and give you support and advice on dealing with your debts. Use the following websites to find an organisation to contact - you can choose from advice over the phone, online or face-to-face (if it is available in your area).

  Money Advice Service

  Stepchange

  National Debtline

  The Money & Pensions Service also has a helpful ‘Bill Prioritiser’ tool to help you decide how to act - we would always suggest taking regulated debt advice to supplement tools like this, especially if you are not able to make essential payments for ‘priority’ debts such as rent, energy and council tax.

  Citizens Advice have a similar tool and lots of information on their website on this topic.
  

 Ofgem also have a summary of the steps you can take if you can’t pay your bill, which goes into more detail - you can access it by clicking here.