Energy bill support: grants, discounts and help available
If you're struggling to pay your energy bills, there may be support available.
Depending on your circumstances, you could get help with paying off energy debt, topping up a prepayment meter, reducing your bills or improving your home's energy efficiency.
This guide explains what's available and how to access it.
Energy prices: what's happening?
Energy bills increased again on 1 July 2026, following the rises seen during the energy crisis in April and October 2022.
July 2026 price cap increase
Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 13% for households on standard variable tariffs who pay by direct debit, taking the average bill to £1,862 per year.
The increase was largely driven by higher wholesale gas prices linked to conflict in the Middle East.
What is the energy price cap?
The energy price cap is set by Ofgem, the UK's energy regulator.
It limits the maximum amount suppliers can charge for each unit of gas and electricity on standard variable tariffs.
It doesn’t cap your total bill.
The more energy you use, the more you'll pay.
Energy debt is at a record high
Many households are struggling to keep up with payments.
According to Ofgem, energy debt reached £4.79bn between January and March 2026, an increase of 5% compared with the previous quarter.
If you're struggling to pay your energy bills
If you're finding it difficult to pay your bills or top up a prepayment meter, don't ignore the problem. It's important to ask for help as early as possible. Energy suppliers are often able to offer more support before debts become unmanageable.
You may be able to get help through:
- energy supplier hardship funds
- charitable grants
- emergency fuel vouchers
- government discounts
- benefits you may not be claiming
- payment plans with your supplier
- home energy efficiency grants
Energy supplier grants and hardship funds
Many energy suppliers have hardship funds for customers experiencing financial difficulties.
Depending on your circumstances, support may include grants to reduce energy debt, emergency credit, replacement appliances or practical advice to help you manage your bills.
British Gas Energy Trust
The British Gas Energy Trust can help whether or not you're a British Gas customer.
The Trust offers grants to clear gas and electricity debt and may also provide wider financial support. If you're with another supplier, you'll usually be asked to check whether your own supplier can help first.
Through its support fund, the Trust helps people with gas or electricity debts, but it asks that people get debt advice first. We can help with this.
EDF Customer Support Fund
EDF customers who have fallen behind with their energy bills may be able to receive grants to reduce or clear outstanding balances.
Find out how they can support you.
E.ON Next Energy Fund
Current and former E.ON customers may be eligible for help with energy debt.
The fund may also help replace essential household appliances and older boilers where appropriate. Get more details here.
Octopus Octo Assist Fund
Octopus customers may be able to receive:
- help paying energy bills
- home energy visits
- free electric blankets
- thermal camera loans to identify heat loss
- personalised energy-saving advice
OVO Customer Support Package
Eligible OVO customers may receive support including:
- emergency prepayment meter credit
- reduced payment plans
- electric heated throws
- self-heating mattress toppers
- LED bulbs
- smart plugs
- boiler servicing
- practical energy-saving support
Find out more about OVO’s support scheme.
Scottish Power Hardship Fund
Customers on certain benefits or lower incomes who have fallen behind with payments may be eligible for financial assistance. Find out how they can support you.
Utility Warehouse Hardship Fund
With the Utility Warehouse Hardship Fund, support can include:
- financial assistance
- budgeting advice
- energy efficiency guidance
- benefits checks
- personalised support plans
Warm Home Discount
The Warm Home Discount is a £150 payment to help with winter electricity bills.
Rather than receiving cash, the discount is applied directly to your electricity account.
If your supplier provides both gas and electricity, some suppliers will allow the discount to be applied to your gas account instead.
Customers with smart prepayment meters will usually receive the payment automatically as meter credit.
Who may qualify?
In England and Wales, you or your partner normally need to:
- be named on the electricity account; and
- receive a qualifying means-tested benefit, such as:
- universal credit
- pension credit
- income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- income support
- housing benefit
If you're eligible, it's worth checking your energy account details are up to date to avoid missing out.
Fuel vouchers for prepayment meters
If you've run out of credit and can't afford to top up your prepayment meter, you may be able to receive an emergency fuel voucher.
A voucher is normally sent by text, email or letter and can be used to add credit to your gas card or electricity key.
You may be able to get a voucher through:
- Citizens Advice
- your local council
- a food bank
- a support agency working with your council
Charitable grants
Many charities provide grants for people facing financial hardship.
Some are open to anyone on a low income, while others support people who:
- worked in particular professions
- have specific health conditions
- are carers
- are older people
- have experienced a recent crisis
If you're struggling with energy bills, it's worth checking whether you're eligible for charitable grants as well as supplier support.
Priority Services Register
If you're elderly, disabled or have additional support needs, you should consider joining your energy supplier's Priority Services Register.
The service is completely free.
You may qualify if you:
- are over state pension age
- have a disability
- have a long-term health condition
- use medical equipment at home
- are pregnant or have children under five
- have communication difficulties
- would struggle during a power cut
Benefits can include:
- priority support during power cuts
- advance notice of planned outages
- accessible bills
- password protection for engineer visits
- meter readings if you're unable to read your meter
- help moving an inaccessible prepayment meter
To sign up to the Priority Services Register, fill out the form on your electricity operator’s website. Your electricity operator is the company that owns the electricity cables in your area, not your electricity supplier.
Government schemes to improve your home
Reducing the amount of energy your home uses can lower your bills permanently.
Depending on where you live and your circumstances, you may qualify for help with:
- loft insulation
- cavity wall insulation
- solid wall insulation
- boiler replacement
- central heating
- air source heat pumps
- solar panels
- draught proofing
Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
The ECO scheme helps eligible low-income and vulnerable households improve their home's energy efficiency.
Support may cover all or part of the cost of improvements such as insulation or heating upgrades.
Help in Wales
The Nest scheme provides free energy advice and, for eligible households, may fund improvements including:
- insulation
- new boilers
- central heating
- heat pumps
- solar panels
Find out more about the Nest scheme.
Some Welsh local authorities also offer home improvement loans of up to £35,000 for eligible homeowners.
Help in Northern Ireland
If you live in Northern Ireland, you may be able to access grants to improve your home's energy efficiency, depending on your income and circumstances.
Find out if you’re eligible for an energy efficiency grant.
Help from your local council
Many councils can help residents facing financial hardship.
Support varies depending on where you live but may include:
- emergency household support
- energy bill assistance
- crisis grants
- discretionary welfare payments
- home energy improvements
- budgeting support
It's always worth checking your local council's website to see what's available.
Check you're receiving all the benefits you're entitled to
Thousands of households miss out on benefits every year.
A free benefits check could identify additional income that helps with your energy bills, including:
- pension credit
- universal credit
- attendance allowance
- personal independence payment (PIP)
- carer's allowance
Even a small increase in income could make you eligible for additional energy support.
Use our benefits calculator to see what you might be able to claim.
Talk to your supplier early
If you're struggling, contact your supplier as soon as possible.
They may be able to:
- agree an affordable repayment plan
- temporarily reduce your payments
- offer emergency credit
- pause debt recovery action
- refer you to hardship support
- carry out an affordability assessment
Suppliers are expected to work with customers who are in financial difficulty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Possibly.
Many councils provide emergency support through local welfare schemes or household support funding. The help available depends on where you live.
Yes.
You may qualify for emergency fuel vouchers, emergency credit from your supplier or additional hardship support.
Don't wait until your credit runs out before asking for help.
Yes.
If your rent is all-inclusive and your landlord receives a government energy discount that relates to your home, they must normally pass the benefit on to you where the rules require.
They should explain:
- how much they received
- how much you're receiving
- how it was calculated
- when you'll receive it
- how to challenge the decision if you disagree
The ECO scheme helps eligible households improve their home's energy efficiency by funding measures such as insulation, heating improvements and boiler replacements.
Speak to your supplier immediately.
You may qualify for emergency support, a hardship fund, a fuel voucher or other financial assistance. You should also check whether you're entitled to benefits or charitable grants.
No one should have to choose between heating and other essentials.