Title page
Contents
Summary 5
1. Universal government support schemes 7
1.1. The Default Tariff Cap (energy price cap) 7
1.2. Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) 8
Customers on pre-payment meters 10
EPG in Northern Ireland 11
Can households without a domestic electricity and/or gas contract benefit from the EPG or the price cap? 11
1.3. Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) 12
EBDS eligibility criteria 12
How does the EBDS reduce energy costs? 13
Will customers without a contract with a licensed energy supplier receive the EBDS? 14
1.4. Pass-through requirements 15
How will benefits be passed through to end users? 15
What can end users do if benefits are not passed through? 17
Pass-through requirements for heat networks 17
1.5. Consumer protection from April 2024 19
Rising direct debit charges 19
Inquiry into the fairness of customer energy bills 20
1.6. Support schemes in 2022-23 20
2. Targeted support schemes 21
2.1. Winter Fuel Payments 21
2.2. Cold Weather Payments 21
Scotland 22
2.3. Cost of Living Payments 23
Household Support Fund 24
2.4. Warm Home Discount (WHD) 25
Eligible customers 26
WHD Contact and help 26
New high energy cost criteria and property characteristics 26
WHD in Scotland 27
Northern Ireland 27
Meter users and park home residents 28
Further information 28
2.5. Scotland: Home Heating Support Fund 28
Eligibility 28
3. Practical steps 30
3.1. Switching tariff or energy supplier 30
Automatic switching schemes 31
3.2. Collective purchasing and switching schemes 31
3.3. Priority Services Registers 32
3.4. Complaints 33
4. Further sources of information and advice 34
4.1. GOV.UK 34
4.2. Benefits checks 34
4.3. Ofgem 34
4.4. Energy Saving Trust 35
4.5. Citizens Advice 35
4.6. Age, disability and poverty support groups 35
Table 1. Energy price per unit under energy price cap 8