The Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas to an annual equivalent of around £2,500 for a typical household in Great Britain. The EPG was introduced in October 2022 and the current level of £2,500 will remain until the end of June 2023. Some customers paying by direct direct might still experience an increase in their energy bills by £67 from April 2023 due to the end of the Energy Bill Support Scheme in March 2023. However, your energy bills will still increase if you consume more energy than the typical household.
Standard variable tariff customers
If you’re on a standard variable tariff paying by direct debit, the cost of a unit energy will be limited to 33.2p/kWh for electricity and 10.3p/kWh for gas from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023.
Variable tariff customers
If you’re on a variable tariff not subject to the price cap for instance certain 100% renewable energy tariffs, you will receive the full unit rate discount: reductions of 16.6p/kWh for electricity and 2.2p/kWh for gas from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023.
Fixed tariff customers
Fixed tariff customers will have the same support where appropriate. Unit price reductions of up to 16.6p/kWh for electricity and 2.2p/kWh for gas from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023 will apply to fixed tariff customers that currently have unit rates above the Energy Price Guarantee.
Prepayment meter customers
You’ll receive the discount to the rate you pay for each unit of energy, so the money you put on the meter will last longer than would otherwise have been the case this winter. There’s no need to apply and you won’t need any vouchers. The discount will be applied automatically by your supplier. Prepayment customers on variable contracts will receive the full unit discount: 16.6p/kWh for electricity and 2.2p/kWh for gas from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023.
From 1 July 2023 through 31 March 2024, customers with pre-payment meters will pay the same amount as an equivalent customer paying by direct debit. Saving around £45 a year on energy bills.
If you’re not connected to the grid
The business which has the direct commercial relationship with the energy supplier (for example the park owner) will receive support via the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
If you do not use mains gas for your heating
The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) will provide £200 as a one-off payment to UK households that use alternative fuels for heating, such as heating oil or LPG. Households eligible for these payments will receive £200 as a credit on their electricity bill. If you do not get it automatically, use this service by clicking here to apply for £200 support to help pay for alternative fuels. You can only make one application per household.
If you pay for your energy as part of your rent
If your landlord has a domestic electricity and/or gas contract with a licenced electricity and/or gas supplier, they will be eligible for the Energy Price Guarantee and the price they charge you should reflect this as of October 1. Similarly, they will receive the Energy Bills Support Scheme and should pass it on to you.
For further information on the Energy Price Guarantee, please visit Energy bills support factsheet – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Low income benefits and tax credits Cost of Living Payment
You may be entitled to up to 3 Cost of Living Payments of £301, £300 and £299 if you get any of the following benefits or tax credits on certain dates:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
The payment will be made separately from your benefit payments.
When you’ll be paid
If you’re entitled, you will get:
- £301 paid between 25 April 2023 and 17 May 2023 for most people on DWP benefits
- £300 paid during autumn 2023 for most people
- £299 paid during spring 2024 for most people
One-off Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you will get an extra £150 or £300 for your household paid with your normal payment from November 2023. The government will make these payments directly to households across the UK.
More information about the qualifying dates for the payment will be updated soon!
Disability Cost of Living Payment
During Summer 2023, £150 will be provided to people with the following disability benefits:
Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Disability Living Allowance for adults
Disability Living Allowance for children
Personal Independence Payment
Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
Armed Forces Independence Payment
War Pension Mobility Supplement
More information about the qualifying and payments dates will be updated soon!
You can report a missing Cost of Living Payment if you think you should have had the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment. Please click here.
Winter Fuel Payment
If you were born on or before a specific date (this date changes each year and is currently 24 September 1957 and can be found on the Gov.uk website), you will be sent a letter in October or November 2023 telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get if you’re eligible.
Cold Weather Payment
Some households could be eligible for a Cold Weather Payment of £25 per qualifying week. This is paid automatically to those on certain benefits when the average temperature in their area is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below for seven consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
Help with your broadband and phone bill
For those receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and some other benefits, social tariffs offer cheaper phone and broadband plans. Some providers refer to them as “basic” or “essential” broadband. To find out more please visit Cheaper broadband and phone packages – ofcom.org.uk