The UK Government has announced that the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding application portal will not open this month as previously planned, instead the online hub and telephone helpline is expected to be up and running by Monday, February 27, 2023.
The one-off, non-repayable lump sum will be delivered by local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales and aims to provide financial support to around 900,000 households without a direct relationship with a domestic electricity supplier. This includes people who live in park homes, houseboats, off-grid and care homes, or those paying their energy bills as part of an all-inclusive rental agreement with their landlord.
Energy Minister Graham Stuart told MPs in the House of Commons last week of the revised opening date, explaining that due to the complex nature of the application process it was essential to get it right first time otherwise payments to hundreds of thousands of households could be delayed.
