Fuel Poverty & Social Tariffs
On this page you can find out about:
- Fuel Poverty - Do you spend more than 10% of your household income on fuel bills?
- Social Tariffs
What is Fuel Poverty?
Do you spend more than 10% of your household income on fuel bills?
If you do, according to the Government you are in 'Fuel Poverty'. And you're not alone. There are an estimated 2.5 million households in the UK in 'Fuel Poverty' today.
We are involved with a number of projects that can offer advice and ways to reduce your energy usage and save you money, such as the Community Carbon Champions scheme. See the options on the left for information about the different projects we are running.
What is a Social Tariff?
Social Tariffs must equal the suppliers cheapest plan. It ensures that suppliers offer the most vulnerable members of society the lowest available price for their energy. To be eligible for a Social Tariff you must normally meet certain criteria which may include:
- Age restrictions - some social tariffs are only available to elderly or people with young children.
- Fuel Poverty - some are only available to people in Fuel Poverty (spending 10% or more of your income on fuel bills).
- Benefits based - some are only available to people in receipt of certain benefits.
What social tariffs are there?
Below is a description of the range of social tariffs currently available. Note, this list was updated on 10th July 2009 and will be updated regularly.
EDF Energy - Energy Assist
Energy Assist is the social tariff from EDF Energy. It currently offers:
- Eligible consumers regardless of payment method are charged on the same tariff as direct debit customers, plus there is an annual discount of £75 for dual fuel customers (or £37.50 for single fuel customers)
- Free energy efficiency advice
- Free or heavily discounted energy efficiency measures (e.g. insulation, draught proofing, light bulbs etc.)
- Free benefits entitlement check
For further information on availability and eligibility criteria, please contact the EDF Energy Priority Services Team on 0800 269 450.
To qualify you must be a customer of EDF Energy and spend more than 10% of your total net annual household income on annual household energy costs, or be in receipt of Income Support and/or receive Pension Credit benefits.
The 150,000 consumers signed up to the original Energy Assist will be transferred to the new tariff during May 2009. Electricity prepayment customers on Energy Assist will now be able to pay the correct prices using their meter, rather than receiving a rebate, however prepayment gas consumers will continue to be sent rebates.
NPower - Spreading Warmth Tariff
The Spreading Warmth Tariff is npower's social tariff and is their cheapest tariff regardless of payment method. The tariff currently offers average annual savings compared to their standard prices of over 20% for the dual fuel cash / cheque and prepayment customer (based on annual notional consumption of 3,300 kWh for electricity, 20,500 kWh for gas, paying by receipt of bill or prepayment).
The eligibility for the tariff is that a customer has a gross annual household income below £13,500 and someone in the household is: 60 or over, disabled, chronically sick, or a child under 16.
NPower - First Step Scheme and First Step Fund
npower's First Step Scheme offers advice and help if you're struggling to pay your npower bills. The scheme offers:
- Advice about paying npower bills
- First Step advisors will work with consumers on a one-on-one basis to help them manage their energy bills. The advisors will set up a payment plan that suits the consumers circumstances, and provide advice on how to save energy and money around the home.
Some consumers may be eligible for help from the First Step Fund, which could clear all or part of the debt owed. If eligible the debt will be placed on hold for an agreed period of time, as long as the consumer commits to a payment plan and doesn't default on payments. After an agreed period of time (no less than six months) the First Step fund may write off all, or some, of a consumers debt. If the consumer is in quite a lot of debt it may be cleared in several instalments - as long as regular payments are maintained.
E.ON WarmAssist social product
- Up to 15% discount on standard electricity and gas prices
- Energy efficiency audit
- Energy efficiency measures including free installed cavity wall and loft insulation up to £370
- Benefits check
- Access to E.ON's Caring energy Fund providing grants to install heating systems and the purchase of essential appliances
- Energy saving pack
- Easy referral to other support agencies and registration with E.ON's Priority Service Register.
To qualify you must be aged 60 or above and in receipt of Pension Credit.
Scottish Power - Fresh Start
Features offered as part of tariff:
- The tariff offers consumers access to their current best tariff price which is equivalent to discount online direct debit rates
- Benefits check to ensure consumers are claiming all the benefits they are eligible for
- Energy Efficiency Advice
The tariff will be available to anyone who is over the age of 60 and in receipt of a social welfare benefit. This tariff replaces the existing Carefree Plus tariff.
Scottish and Southern Energy - Energyplus Care
Energyplus Care is a special tariff for existing consumers of Scottish and Southern Energy. (you may know this company better by the names Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro Electric, or SWALEC). Energyplus Care provides:
- Up to 20% discount on their current fuel prices, regardless of which payment method you use.
- Free energy efficiency advice to help save even more money on future bills.
- Free energy efficiency measures, from low energy light bulbs to a free fridge or a discounted fridge/freezer.
- Free benefit entitlement check
You may qualify for energyplus Care if you spend over 10% of your total household income on your energy bills. Eligibility is assessed using a simple questionnaire which is completed either over the phone or in person.
If you believe you may qualify contact the Careline on 0800 622 838, 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.