Energy suppliers British Gas, EDF, Utilita, Octopus offer up to £2,000 to struggling households: How to apply

If you're grappling with energy costs or owe money to your supplier, assistance may be available, with companies offering up to £2,000 to help pay bills. Since 1 July, the cap on energy prices has been set at £1,568 per year for a typical household that uses electricity and gas and pays by direct debit. According to Ofgem, the average household consists of 2.4 people and consumes 242 kWh of electricity and 1,000 kWh of gas each month. The price cap dropped by £122 annually for the average household from 1 July 2024, following significant increases in 2022/23.

However, costs are still considerably higher than they were a few years ago, so if you're still having trouble making payments, several companies, including British Gas and Octopus Energy, are offering grants and other forms of support. Each company has different schemes and criteria for accessing help - here's everything you need to know.

British Gas has allocated £200 million to its Energy Support Fund to assist customers facing financial difficulties. Since 2021, over 2.2 million British Gas customers have received energy debt write-off grants of up to £2,000. To qualify, customers must be seeking a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account related to their primary residence. The debt to be cleared must range between £250 and £2,000.

Customers will only be eligible for one grant in a 12-month period and must be experiencing, or at risk of, fuel poverty. British Gas has introduced a "You Pay: We Pay" scheme, which matches 100% of energy payments made by customers who are most in need. The £15 million initiative is designed to assist those at risk of falling into debt or already in arrears. More information and