OVO will allocate £56 million to support customers: who will receive assistance.

According to The Sun: Thousands of households facing financial difficulties may receive part of £56 million in financial support from a major energy provider to cover their energy bills.

OVO Energy, which serves more than 4.5 million customers, announced that the application process for assistance will open on October 1.

AlamyAs part of the program, households struggling to pay their bills will be provided with free energy-saving products, including electric blankets, mattresses, and energy efficiency improvement kits.

Since 2022, OVO has provided assistance totaling £190 million, including heating blankets, smart plugs, and energy-efficient kits, helping 42,000 customers just last year.

While OVO supports consumers year-round, the company plans to scale up programs specifically ahead of the winter season.

The latest package of £56 million includes payment holidays for prepayment customers, free energy-saving products, and direct financial support.

Customers can also take advantage of a wide range of energy-saving measures that can be installed through the ECO4 program — from loft insulation to a new boiler or modern equipment like heat pumps.

Eligible customers are also entitled to free installation of various energy-saving measures.

Financial support covers a reduction in monthly payments, emergency credit top-ups, and longer debt repayment plans.

To check your eligibility for assistance, visit ovoenergy.com/extra-support.

Additionally, OVO is campaigning for the introduction of a social tariff to protect vulnerable consumers from high energy prices and combat fuel poverty in the UK.

id='6369356626112' data-video-id='6369356626112' data-account='5067014667001' data-player='default' data-usage='cms:WordPress:6.5.6:2.8.6:javascript' data-embed='default' class='video-js' data-application-id='' controls style='width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;'>

David Butterworth, CEO of OVO, stated:

“We are providing support to those who need it most, working together with our charitable partners and committing to providing our largest support package for customers.”

 

“But this is not a long-term solution.”

 

“We need to make the energy system more effective for everyone.”

 

“This starts with targeted support in the form of a social tariff – no one should be left behind.”

What is the energy company obligation program?

Low-income families and vulnerable groups can receive assistance in improving the energy efficiency of their homes through the energy company obligation program (ECO).

Under the ECO program, suppliers have a legal obligation to implement energy-saving measures in your home if you are facing fuel poverty.

Assistance is provided on a case-by-case basis, but it may mean installing a new boiler or insulating the loft or walls, usually for free.

The cost of purchasing and installing a new boiler is about £2,500, while installing loft insulation costs around £725, and wall insulation averages about £1,800.

Measures may also include the installation of heat pumps, smart thermostats, and even solar panels.

These government programs are aimed at helping low-income households and vulnerable groups, significantly reducing heating bills by up to £485 annually.

The ECO program was launched in January 2013 and has been extended several times.

ECO4 applies to any assistance issued between April 1, 2022, and covers a four-year period until March 31, 2026.

You will only qualify for the ECO program under certain conditions, such as receiving certain benefits and living in private housing.

The list of benefits that may grant you eligibility for this program includes:

• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Child Benefit
• Housing Benefit

You may also qualify if you live in social housing.

Additionally, households must reside in homes with a D-G energy rating if they are homeowners, or E-G if renting from a private landlord.

To check your eligibility and apply, contact your energy supplier.

What other grants are available?

There are several other ways for households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and save money through various grants.

From insulation to boiler upgrades and modifications for people with disabilities, financial support may cover a significant portion of the costs associated with enhancing your home.

Some grants may even cover up to £50,000 for improving your accommodation.

UK Insulation Scheme – thousands of pounds

You can receive assistance in insulating your home through the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS) if you do not meet the criteria for the ECO program.

GBIS is open to an additional 400,000 households in tax bands A to E in England, Wales, and Scotland that may not be receiving assistance.

To qualify, your energy certificate must be rated D or below.

You could receive vital upgrades to your home, including loft, ceiling, or wall insulation — which could reduce your annual energy costs by hundreds of pounds.

Check your eligibility by visiting gov.uk/apply-great-british-insulation-scheme.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme – £7,500

Through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, you can receive a grant to partially cover the cost of replacing fossil fuel heating boilers with heat pumps or biomass boilers.

You can receive one grant per property, to help with:

• £7,500 for an air source heat pump
• £7,500 for a ground source heat pump (including water source and shared network installations)
• £5,000 for a biomass boiler

To participate in this scheme, you must be the owner of the property you intend to upgrade.

You need to find a certified MCS installer to receive the grant on your behalf.

MCS is a certification system for installers of energy-efficient products.

You can find the nearest installers at www.mcscertified.com/find-an-installer, but it's worth comparing several quotes.

Home Upgrade Grant – thousands of pounds

The Home Upgrade Grant provides funding for various energy efficiency measures for homes that are not connected to the gas grid, often located in rural or semi-rural areas.

To qualify, you must own and live in the property for which you are applying and not use a gas boiler as your primary heating system.

It is also crucial to have an energy performance certificate (EPC) with a rating of D, E, F, or G. If you don't know the EPC rating of your home, you can find out during the application process.

Often, your annual income should not exceed £36,000.

If you meet the criteria, your local council will arrange a home inspection to determine how to improve energy efficiency.

They may suggest improvements such as installing wall, attic, or floor insulation, heat pump installations, or electric radiators.

For more information, you can visit gov.uk/apply-home-upgrade-grant.

What assistance is available for energy bill payments?

There are several options for obtaining assistance with energy bill payments if you are struggling to manage them.

If you find yourself in debt, contact your supplier to see if they can offer a debt repayment plan before installing a prepayment meter.

This allows you to pay off the debt in installments over time.

If the supplier offers you a plan that seems unmanageable, reach out to them again to try to negotiate better terms.

Several energy companies offer assistance programs for customers facing payment difficulties.

However, selection criteria vary by supplier, and the amount you can receive depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, customers of British Gas or Scottish Gas who face difficulties can apply for grants of up to £2,000.

British Gas also provides help through the British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.

For the latter fund, you do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy, and Scottish Power also have grants for customers facing difficulties.

Unfortunately, many vulnerable households do not receive additional help and support unless they register for the Priority Services Register (PSR).

This service helps ensure support for vulnerable households, such as the elderly or sick individuals.

Some benefits include notifications about potential outages, free gas safety checks, and additional support in times of difficulty.

Contact your energy supplier to see if you can apply.