Available financial support for energy customers

How energy companies can help with your bills

Utility companies must do more to inform consumers of help available

The National Audit Office (NAO) published a report today (10 June 2026) revealing that consumer debt to water, energy and broadband companies is more than £7 billion and that millions of utility customers are missing out on support for essential bills. Regulating water, energy and broadband to protect consumers in vulnerable circumstances.

The Tik Tok video below explains more about the findings and support available to consumers:

@thecomplainingcow
Millions of people are struggling with water, energy and broadband bills, yet many don’t realise financial help may already be available. Social tariffs, hardship funds, grants, repayment plans and discounts could make a huge difference. Don’t miss out simply because nobody told you. Share to help others Have you ever successfully applied for a social tariff or hardship scheme? #CostOfLiving #MoneySaving #EnergyBills #Broadband #WaterBill
♬ original sound – Helen Dewdney

Financial help with energy bills

Under Ofgem rules, energy providers must provide help to customers if who are in financial difficulty. Ofgem provides help with links from its page Getting help if you can’t afford your energy bills.

1) The Warm Home Discount (WHD) covers England, Scotland and Wales and will run until 31 March 2031. The Affordable Warmth Scheme is available in Northern Ireland. You will be entitled to £150 discount over Winter. See the WHD link for the benefits eligibility which is different in Scotland. It opens again in August 2026.

2) Ofgem administers a variety of government Environmental and social schemes which require energy suppliers to support renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, reduce fuel poverty, and help eligible customers with energy costs. Some schemes provide direct support to households, while others place obligations on energy suppliers to fund or deliver assistance. For example, the Energy Company Obligation (ECO), which funds energy-efficiency improvements – such as insulation and heating upgrades – and the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, provides grants towards the installation of low-carbon heating systems, such as heat pumps.

3) If you’re having difficulty paying your energy bills, it is important to keep communicating with your supplier. There may be access to hardship funds and grants from various organisations, including your energy supplier. You may also be able to get 60 days’ space from creditors to focus on getting debt advice and setting up a debt management solution.

4) The Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) is an annual payment to help UK pensioners with heating costs during the cold winter months. See All you need to know about the Winter Fuel Payment.

Fuel poverty research

On the 16 June 2026 End Fuel Poverty revealed shocking figures about households in fuel debt.

See also the Tik Tok video below about it’s research and what you can do about loan sharks:

@thecomplainingcow
New research from Stop Fuel Poverty suggests almost one in four people already in energy debt owe money to someone who makes them feel scared. That’s a worrying sign that some households are turning to risky borrowing just to keep up with essential bills. If you’re using a loan shark, seek help. The Illegal Money Lending Team Share this to help others 👇 Were you aware that debt owed to a loan shark can be written off? #EnergyBills #borrow #Lending #DebtAdvice #CostOfLiving :::
♬ original sound – Helen Dewdney

More help with energy

How to save money on and complain about, energy

Further general money help and debt advice and support

Check the Better Off Calculator. Put in your details and see the benefits to which you may be entitled.

You can also get debt advice from Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline.

Visit the website of Turn2Us, who provide information and advice on what assistance is available, including charities that will help you pay your bills.

Further financial help with utilities

See Available financial support for water customers

See Available financial support for Broadband customers

Further help with complaining effectively about your energy provider and more

For masses of information, tips, guidance, laws and regulations and templates to help you complain effectively GET THE BOOK! How To Complain: The ESSENTIAL Consumer Guide to Getting REFUNDS, Redress and RESULTS!

Want to get better at complaining? See 101 Habits of an Effective Complainer

Save yourself time and effort finding the laws and wording a letter of complaint and download a template, fill in your details and get that redress

Purchase downloadable templates to gain redress

Templates for complaining about utilities

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