British Gas vitality assist fund provides grants to hard-up Britons

Hard-up Britons who’re in vitality debt can get grants to assist them clear their money owed from British Gas.

People can get assist from the Individuals and Families fund, which is a part of the British Gas Energy Trust.

The fund is on the market to all Britons and there’s no must be a British Gas buyer to use.

A family might want to have approached a cash recommendation company earlier than making use of for the assistance, to allow them to perceive their choices for getting assist.

They might want to proof they’ve approached a related company on their software kind.

READ MORE: Britons can slash inheritance tax bill with gifts up to any amount – but there’s a catch

To be eligible for a grant, an individual should additionally meet all of those standards:

• A resident of England, Scotland or Wales
• Have not acquired a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust inside the final two years
• Seeking a grant to clear an impressive debt on a present or open fuel, electrical energy or twin gas vitality account
• The account should be within the particular person’s title or a member of their family, and it should relate to their foremost residence
• Have an electrical or fuel debt and be dealing with gas poverty.

The assist could possibly be an enormous assist as analysis suggests tens of 1000’s of Britons could see their energy bills increase.

Analysis from Elexon discovered some 820,000 households who’ve electrical energy meters that depend on the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) may see their payments go up.

This is as a result of these meters will cease functioning after March 31, 2024. Many individuals on Economy 7 and different multi-rate tariffs depend on the RTS service to permit them to profit from cheaper charges throughout off-peak durations.

The vitality meters can robotically activate and off heating and scorching water techniques throughout sure hours of the day.

This will have an effect on some 100,000 prospects at Eon Next, Octopus Energy (together with Bulb) and Scottish Power, who nonetheless depend on RTS meters.

An additional 50,000 prospects with British Gas, EDF and Ovo Energy (together with Boost and SSE) additionally nonetheless use RTS meters.

From the start of April subsequent yr, these meters could possibly be left caught on peak electrical energy fee.

There can also be the chance a family’s heating techniques could possibly be left completely on or off after the sign dies.

An Ofgem spokesperson stated: “Suppliers have to make sure meters are safe and accurate, and this sometimes means replacing the meter. We expect suppliers to communicate clearly to their customers about this.”

For the newest private finance news, comply with us on Twitter at @ExpressMoney_.