Prepayment meter customers urged to redeem energy bill support before the deadline

Households on traditional prepayment meters are being urged to redeem their energy bill support vouchers, with £160 million remaining to be claimed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Prepayment meter customers have so far claimed £620 million under the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

New figures published today show that more than £780 million in EBSS vouchers have been sent to households, with nearly 80 per cent redeemed by customers. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The vouchers allow eligible customers, often in low-income homes, to access discounts of up to £400 on their energy costs, which direct debit customers will have automatically received this winter. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Consumer Energy Minister Amanda Solloway has urged anyone who has not yet redeemed their prepayment meter vouchers to do so now, with the scheme remaining open until 30 June. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Customers can redeem the 2.4 million outstanding vouchers at their local Post Office or PayPoint. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The EBSS, together with the cap on energy prices, saw the government cover half of a typical household energy bill over the winter. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Last month the government also announced an extension to the Energy Price Guarantee, meaning by the end of June a typical household will have saved £1,500 on their energy bill – while wholesale prices continue to fall. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability Amanda Solloway said: “Putin’s illegal war on Ukraine had a massive impact on global energy prices and with it, people’s bills. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The government stepped in to provide vital support to households across the country, with £780 million in support delivered to prepayment meter customers. But there’s still £160 million of that yet to claim which will make a huge difference. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Even as the warmer weather sets in I urge anyone on a traditional prepayment meter to act now if they haven’t redeemed their voucher. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Nick Read, Chief Executive of the Post Office said: “We’re urging people not to miss out on this vital support from the government before the Energy Bills Support Scheme closes at the end of June. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Claiming your voucher at the Post Office is really simple, just bring your voucher, your energy pre-payment key or card and the ID specified in your voucher letter and we will redeem the voucher for you at the counter. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s important to check any post you have at home to ensure you haven’t missed any vouchers. They are valid for 3 months but if you have expired vouchers you should contact your electricity supplier and ask for a new one to be sent out. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Under the Energy Bills Support Scheme more than £11.4 billion went to 28 million households across the UK to keep costs down over the winter – the equivalent of £500,000 a day. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Households who do not have a direct relationship with an energy supplier or use alternative fuels – such as heating oil, LPG and biomass – to heat their homes are also being urged to take full advantage of government support, as a number of schemes close on 31 May. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Customers in these households can apply for: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

• The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding which provides equivalent £400 payments to households who do not have a domestic electricity supply and were not eligible to receive the Energy Bills Support Scheme automatically. Eligible applicants include partially or wholly self-funded care homes residents and residents of park homes. These households must apply either via GOV.UK or the contact centre helpline by 31 May 2023
• The Alternative Fuel Payment Alternative Funding scheme which supports households that use fuels such as heating oil, LPG and biomass as their main heating source but did not automatically receive £200 of support from an electricity supplier. Eligible applicants must apply via GOV.UK or the contact centre helpline by 31 May 202