The start of October means millions of people will have seen yet another increase in their energy prices. The UK government's new energy price guarantee came into effect on October 1, which will see the typical household bill capped at £2,500 per year - or around £208 per month - for two years.
While the UK Government says the measure is aimed at protecting energy consumers from crippling price increases which have seen costs skyrocket in recent months, the price guarantee will not mean everyone pays less than £2,500 as some people use more than the typical household. You can read more about that here. Energy bills are still around 95% higher than they were last winter, even with the price guarantee.
With bills getting so high, many have been left wondering how they will pay their energy bills in the colder winter months. As well as the government's range of cost of living payments and other financial support, you might be eligible for help directly from your energy company.
Read more: How each energy company will give you £400 off your bills
From hardship funds to charity trusts and other support schemes, here's what each of the main energy companies is offering to those struggling to pay their bills:
British Gas
British Gas offers a range of options to help those who are struggling. The support available depends on whether or not you pay by direct debit or by other means. If you pay as you go and use up all your emergency credit, you may be entitled to additional support credit.
This will help keep you on supply, but you’ll need to pay back any credit owed. If you pay by other means, options include moving to direct debit which gives you a discount or paying your bill by reduced instalments. You can find out more here or by calling 0333 202 9804.
The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charity set up in 2004 to offer help and support to people who are struggling to pay their bills. It offers help to anyone in the UK who is struggling - even those who are not British Gas customers. This could include a grant of up to £1,500 if you're struggling to pay off bills. You can find out more about that here.
Bulb
If you're a Bulb customer and have run out of credit on your prepayment meter, you can call the company on 0300 30 30 635 to ask about adding temporary credit. You might also be able to lower your monthly payment amount in the payments settings page of your Bulb account or do a financial assessment with one of Bulb's partner organisations (IE Hub, Citizens Advice and StepChange) to find a payment amount that you can afford. This will mean filling in an online form or talking to Bulb partners about your financial situation over the phone. You can find out more here.
It also had a fund for those struggling which offered a £140 grant or your energy debts written off up to £2,000, but this is currently not accepting applications.
E.on/E.on Next Energy
E.on offers customers the chance to discuss their circumstances and find a way to pay that works for them. You can call them on 0345 052 0000. The E.on Energy Fund also helps customers pay current or final energy bill arrears in England, Scotland or Wales. You can contact them on 03303 80 10 90 or find out more here. There is no set limit on what is available as it depends on your circumstances.
EDF Energy
EDF offers various support including allowing customers to pay a smaller, more manageable amount every month instead. The EDF Customer Support Fund also supports individuals struggling to manage household energy debt. To apply for this you must register for the EDF Priority Services and then apply for the fund. You'll need to have your EDF account number and current energy debt balances ready, along with details of your household finances and vulnerability. It may be helpful to have your more recent energy bill to hand when you apply. Find out more about the fund here or by calling 0800 269 450. What you could get depends on your circumstances and there is no upper limit.
Octopus Energy
Like other suppliers, you can contact Octopus Energy directly to talk to them if you're having trouble paying bills on 0808 164 1088. The company also has a £15 million Octo Assist Fund to help those worried about paying for their energy this winter. You can apply here and you'll need information about your circumstances. Again, there is no set limit on what you can get.
Ovo Energy
Similar to others, Ovo offers immediate help to customers such as by switching them to pay as-you-go or discussing alternative payment plans. You can call them on 0330 303 5063 or find out more here. There is expected to be an Ovo hardship funding opening this winter offering support to those who are struggling, but details are yet to be finalised.
Shell Energy
Shell Energy has a support fund for struggling customers which like many of the others has no set criteria or limit on support. You can find out more about it here or by calling them on 0330 094 5800.
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