Help with energy bills

This Commons Library Briefing paper sets out sources of financial and practical help for constituents with domestic energy bills. It also outlines current policy developments.  

There are now a range of measures aimed at helping consumers with their energy bills including:

• Taxpayer-funded payments principally the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payment.
• Obligations on energy suppliers that are funded by all energy bill payers, principally to help eligible customers with energy efficiency measures (Energy Company Obligation) and discounts on electricity bills (Warm Home Discount).
• Practical measures such as switching energy suppliers, joining the Priority Service Register and making use of communal energy buying schemes.
• Sources of information and advice, for example, in the event of disputes with energy suppliers.

At a practical level, the paper focuses on schemes that individuals can access, rather than those aimed at local authorities or housing associations.

There are related Library notes on Energy Prices, and Energy Bills and the price cap