Struggling households have the opportunity to receive up to £1,700 in energy support from British Gas, regardless of whether they are customers or not. The British Gas Energy Trust has reopened its Individual and Families Fund for households with energy debt ranging from £50 to £1,700 for pre-payment customers and £250 to £1,700 for credit customers.
To qualify for this support, households must have a total income below £18,723 or live with someone who is registered disabled, receives disability benefits, Carers Allowance, or resides in a household with three or more children. Interested individuals should seek advice from a free money advice charity like Citizens Advice before applying for the fund.
Applicants who have been declined assistance by their current energy supplier are eligible to apply for the British Gas Energy Trust fund. However, those who have received a grant from the trust within the past two years are not eligible. Jessica Taplin, the head of British Gas Energy Trust, emphasized the importance of this fund in helping struggling households cope with high energy costs and financial challenges.
Meanwhile, energy bills have risen again, with the Ofgem price cap increasing to £1,755 for a typical dual fuel household paying by direct debit. This price cap will remain in effect until December 31 and applies to those on a standard variable rate tariff. While the price cap limits charges for gas and electricity units and standing charges, the total energy bill is still based on actual usage.
The Ofgem price cap is designed to reflect what an average household consuming 2,700 kWh of electricity and 11,500 kWh of gas annually can expect to pay. It’s crucial to note that energy costs are subject to individual consumption patterns, and users can manage their preferences regarding data privacy and cookie usage on the website.
