£75 million to be given to warm lowest income households in England

The government has announced that £75 million will support some of the lowest income households to warm their homes and save on energy bills.

The free energy efficiency upgrades are taking place in thousands of social homes across England and the money will spent on heat pumps, double glazing and insulation.

It’s estimated that this will support some of the lowest income households, and that by warming their homes like this, they could save as much as £400 a year on energy bills.

The funding will be offered to 42 councils and housing associations to help them co-fund installations in up to 8,000 homes. This is also intended to support more than 1,300 jobs in the UK’s retrofit industry.

Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho said: “We want to support hard-working families to make changes, rather than burdening them with unnecessary costs. The funding announced today will give housing associations the certainty and confidence they need to plan and deliver more retrofit projects, tackle fuel poverty, and improve their residents’ homes.”

I’m struggling with energy bills – what should I do?

The first thing you should do if you’re struggling to pay your energy bill is get in touch with your supplier. Some providers offer grants to help customers in need. Find out more in our guide on financial help from your energy supplier. You can also check whether you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to, by using our free benefits calculator.

There may be a few things you can try at home that could help cut costs. Find out how to save energy.

And if your income is no longer covering your bills, find out for free about the solutions available to help people struggling with debt. You may be surprised at just how much help is out there.