From 1st October, the Energy Price Guarantee and Energy Bill Relief Scheme will come into force, helping protect families and businesses from the rising cost of energy bills this winter.
This means a typical UK household will now pay an average of £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years, saving them at least £1,000 a year. This is in addition to the £400 Energy Bills Discount for all households and the additional support available to low income households.
Richard Fuller MP said
Covid and Putin’s war in Ukraine have caused immense challenges for our country, with energy prices rising and families facing significant cost of living pressures.
That is why from 1 October our Energy Price Guarantee will come into force for the next two years saving a typical UK household at least £1,000 a year. The Energy Bill Relief Scheme will also take effect providing businesses, charities, schools and hospitals with a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices for the next six months worth up to half the price of expected energy prices this winter.
This will ensure families and businesses get the support they need, providing certainty for them over the months ahead, whilst we continue to secure energy security for our country in the long term.
The government has produced a factsheet outlining the actions taken and the support available. It can be read here.
The Government is also providing the following immediate, short-term action to support households, which includes a non-repayable £150 cash rebate which is being/has been provided for people living in homes in Council Tax bands A-D, equivalent to 80 per cent of all households and £144 million of discretionary funding for local authorities to support those not eligible for the council tax rebate. There will also be a £400 energy payment. This means that most families will receive £550.
Lower income families will also receive:
- A £650 one-off cost of living payment for those on means tested benefits such as Universal Credit, job seekers allowance and pension credit.
- A £300 one-off pensioner cost of living payment for pensioners in receipt of the Winter Fuel Allowance.
- A £150 one-off disability cost of living payment for people in receipt of disability benefits.
For more information on the help available for your energy bills, please visit this page.
