Gas & Electric | SignPostSheffield

Behind with your Gas & Electric Bills?

Are you in any of the following situations?

One or two payments behind, but you feel you can manage to pay a little extra to cover your current expenses and an additional payment to cover arrears.
Four or five payments behind and feel you will really struggle to catch up with your payments, or even keep your current level?
Are you getting letters saying they will install a pre-payment meter READ HERE

List of energy providers HERE

Let's understand what's happened and make a plan

Okay first thing we need to do is check if you are getting all the benefits that you are entitled to. You can use the benefits calculator

Benefits Calculator

Also let's see if we gather a little information about our incoming and out-goings, use the budgeting tool (From moneyhelper) here.

Budgeting Tool

Okay, we now are armed with some information that will help us when we speak to our energy supplier.

Explain the steps you have taken and how you reached the amount you are going to offer, be realistic and only offer what you can afford.
Reach an agreement about when you expect to have caught up with your bills, talk to them about any future price rises and make plans accordingly.
If it looks at any point that you may not be able to keep up with your plan, then contact them right away, they will try and work with you.

Are you really going to struggle to pay back your arrears, but feel that you can afford your current payments?

You may need a little cash boost, or perhaps some help paying, let's see what options could be available.

Household Support Fund

This is a fund that is currently available till April 2025, you apply to your local council, it isn't a lot but may help you catch up, do the steps above this will help you have all your information ready

APPLY for HSF

Are you on a pre-payment meter? You may be able to get

Emergency Credit (Though they will collect this back via the meter)

Talk to your Provider

You could also

Apply for a fuel voucher

This is best done after talking to a Citizens Advisor

CONTACT C.A.

If you are in debt to your energy provider, you may be able to get a grant to help pay it off

Here are some of the energy suppliers who offer grants and extra help top their customer.

If your supplier isn’t listed, it’s a good idea to contact them directly to see what extra support they can give you.

If you can’t get a grant from your supplier, you might be able to get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. These grants are available to anyone - you don’t have to be a British Gas customer.

You will need to have done a budget as they will ask you lots of questions about your finances, use the Budgeting Tool above

It's best if you get advice from a debt Advisor/Coach before taking this step

These are some of the providers below

Apply British Gas Grant

Apply Scottish Power Hardship Fund

Apply Ovo Customer Support Package

Apply E.ON Next Energy Fund

Apply EDF Energy Customer Support Fund

Apply Octopus Octo Assist fund

Are you already getting help from an S6 Foodbank?

If you are already getting help from an S6 Foodbank, then there may be some extra help with this. Simply ask at the door or your table when you attend.

Been told by your supplier that they want to come and install a pre-payment meter?

You may have a few options, but there are special provisions if...

1. Have a health condition that requires continuously powered medical equipment

2. Have a medical condition that requires a warm home, like:

A terminal illness
Emphysema
Chronic bronchitis
Sickle cell disease
And others

3. Are over 75 years of age and do not have support in the house

4. Live with a child under the age of 2

5. Cannot top up the meter for physical or mental reasons

Contact your supplier if you get a notice saying a meter is going in your home.

Explain you belong to one of the above groups
Ask to them to put you on the Priority Services Register
See if they can offer any other extra support

FIND OUT MORE...

Energy Provider list

British Gas/Scottish Gas

New and existing customers: 0333 202 9532
www.britishgas.co.uk

Services Customer Relations
PO Box 699
Winchester
SO23 5AR

npower

Existing customers (monthly direct debit): 0845 070 4851
Existing customers (bill and quarterly direct debit): 0845 070 4850
New customers: 0800 073 3000
www.npower.com

E.on Next

New customers to Eon: 0345 301 4905
Existing customers (for moving home): 0345 303 3020
Existing customers (to query a bill): 0345 052 0000
Existing customers (for prepayment): 0345 303 3010
www.eonenergy.com

Scottish Power

New and existing customers (online): 0845 270 6543
New and existing customers (domestic): 0845 270 0700
www.scottishpower.co.uk

EDF Energy

Existing customers: 0800 096 9000
New customers: 0800 056 5927
www.edfenergy.com

Opus Energy

Sales: 0160 432 1466

Email: sales@opusenergy.com

Customer Service Phone: 0843 227 2377

Customer Service Email: contactus@opusenergy.com

Complaints Phone Number: 0800 630 0841

Other Email: customercare@opusenergy.com

Haven Power