Contact your energy supplier

If you’re worried about paying your energy bills this winter, speak to your energy provider as soon as possible, so they can provide advice and guidance about how to manage your bills.

Some suppliers are offering grants to help this winter if you’re concerned about costs.

The British Gas Individuals and Families Fund opened on 1 July offering grants of up to £1,500. This is open to both British Gas and non-British Gas customers. To be able to apply you must have had help from a money advice agency in the past three months; be in £250+ of energy debt and have less than £1,000 in savings.

Other energy suppliers are also offering grants to their own customers, including British Gas, EDF, E-ON, Octopus, OVO, Bulb, Scottish Power and Shell Energy. Most applicants will also need to have spoken to a debt adviser before applying, complete an income and expenditure budgeting form, provide proof of income, give details of how arrears have built up, and detail how the grant will help them.