The Energy Bills Support Scheme

We've pulled all the information together you'll need into one place. This will help you understand what the scheme is and how it will work.

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What is the Energy Bills Support Scheme?

This £400 energy bills discount has been set up by the government to help households across Great Britain as energy bills continue to rise, due to increasing energy costs.

The important stuff you need to know

All households across Great Britain will receive a £400 discount which will be paid in 6 instalments from October
The instalments will be paid out in various ways depending on how you pay for your energy
Customers are not expected to pay back the £400 discount
The first two discounts will be £66 followed by four payments of £67 from December until March 2023
Your payments will automatically be paid so there is no need to call us
The EBSS payment will be made regardless of the debit or credit on your account balance
We'll let you know when an EBSS payment has been made, either with your next bill or statement
If you change the way you pay for your energy during the next six months, the way you receive the discount will change too
If you only have a gas account with EDF, payments will come from whoever supplies your electricity. Your electricity supplier may make payments in a different way
Prepayment customers – Your vouchers will be sent in the post. ID will be required to redeem your vouchers. Full details, including expiry dates, will be provided when you receive the vouchers from the Post Office

You may be eligible for some additional cost of living support from the government.

Prepayment

A voucher will be sent in the post within the first two weeks of each month to redeem when you top-up at the Post Office®. Find your nearest Post Office. Please be aware that there are planned Royal Mail strikes, you can view the latest news on when these are.

You'll need your ID to redeem your vouchers. Full details, including expiry dates, will be provided when you receive the vouchers from the Post Office. You'll only be able to redeem the voucher for the customer living at the property if you're their carer or relative.

The vouchers will be valid for three months from the issue date, so we encourage you to use them within the period they're valid.

Three steps to redeeming your EBSS prepayment vouchers

Step 1

Your vouchers will be sent within the first two weeks of each month to redeem when you top-up at the Post Office®.

If you've lost your voucher or the name is incorrect, please fill out this form, we can then get this sorted for you asap.

Step 2

Once you have your vouchers, take them to your nearest Post Office. Find your local Post Office.

You will need:

Your ID
Proof of address

If someone else is doing this for you, make sure they have your ID and voucher with them before they set off to the Post Office.

Step 3

Choose how you want your discount applied. If we supply your gas and electricity when redeeming your voucher at a Post Office branch, you can ask for the EBSS discount to be split between your gas and electricity meters.

Budget Direct Debit (Monthly)

An automatic refund payment will be made within five working days of your normal payment date. This will be paid into the bank account your Direct Debit payments are taken from. Your monthly direct debit amount will not change.

If you then switch to being a Cash Cheque customer your EBSS payment would switch to being a monthly credit applied to your energy account.
If you change your direct debit bank account, we’ll credit the EBSS payment to your active bank account at the time of the payment.
If we don't have your bank account details at the time of processing the EBSS payment, it will be credited to your energy account.

Cash/Cheque and Direct Debit Whole Amount

If you pay by Cash/Cheque or Direct Debit Whole Amount, an automatic credit to your energy account in the first week of each month.

If you pay by Direct Debit Whole Amount the EBSS payment will not change your direct debit amount.
If you cancel your direct debit, there may be a delay in your payment being made. But it will still be paid into your energy account.

Smart Pay As You Go

If your meter is connected with the smart network, an automatic credit will be paid into your smart Pay As You Go meter.

EBSS general FAQs

What happens if I start a new contract after the start of the payments in October - do I still get all six payments?

Yes. When switiching, your October payment will be handled by your existing supplier and then the new supplier will handle payments going foward.

What happens if I change my energy supplier during the six month payment period?

If you're switching energy suppliers or moving home, don't worry, you won't miss out on your EBSS payment. Each month there will be a reconciliation between energy suppliers to make sure you keep getting payments from the provider who supplies you at the time. We recommend letting both suppliers know to ensure your get your payments on time.

What happens if I move during the six month payment period?

If you've moved home and the account is live and in your name on the 1st of the month, then you are entitled to receive this credit.
If you moved in after the 1st of the month, then you won't be able to claim credit for that month. But you can for all following months.
If you've let us know you have moved home and you can't see the credit on your account, please contact us.

How will the EBSS affect me as a tenant?

If the account is in your name, you will receive the payment.
If energy costs are included in your rent, your landlord will receive the payment as the account is in their name.

How will the EBSS affect me as a landlord?

If the account is in your name, you will receive the EBSS payment.
If you're a landlord with multiple properties, you will receive an EBSS payment for each property if the accounts are in your name.

Can I make a claim for any missing months, if I start or leave the scheme after the start or before the end?

No, you'll only receive an EBSS payment if you have an active account at the time of payment, so you can't claim for missing months.

Will it automatically reduce my instalment plan balance or be used against any debts, or is that a choice?

No, if you've got an instalment plan or debt on the account, the credit will be applied to both your ongoing energy usage and the debt/instalment plan you have.

I have an existing dispute on the account over meters/addresses will I still get the payment?

Yes, all our domestic customers are receiving the EBSS grant in order to help with the cost of bills this winter.

What happens if I close my account in November - do I only get one payment?

Yes, when you close your account, you'll no longer be eligible for payments going forward.

Government Energy Bills Support Scheme scam warning

Beware of any scams

We won't ever send your credit via email or SMS.

We've had a notification from Ofgem that there have been a high number of incidents raised with Action Fraud from customers receiving scam emails and text messages claiming to offer customers access to the Energy Bills Support Scheme. In the email or message, customers are asked to register their details.

See an example here of the email or text message.

If you've received one of these please don't click on any links, delete the email or message and report it. If you think your details have been compromised please report it.

Report internet scams and phishing - GOV.UK

Protect yourself

If you’re worried about paying for your energy

We appreciate this is a really difficult time. We have lots of ways we can help you if you're struggling to pay. Options include:

having a smart Pay As You Go meter installed can you manage your energy budget
paying less, more often - if you currently pay your bills quarterly why not consider monthly payments by going to MyAccount
extra support through our Priority Services, for those who need it
how to access independent advice and support - visit our help centre

Other government schemes and benefits that may help

You may be eligible for certain grants and benefits if you:

have reached state pension age
have a disability
have no income or a low income
have missed payments to your energy supplier

Extra help with energy costs during the winter months

Cold Weather payment - Provides extra support for those who need it when the average temperature in your area you live is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You’ll get £25 for each 7-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

Winter Fuel Payment - If you were born on or before 26 September 1956 you could get between £150 and £300 to help you pay your heating bills. This is a one-off annual payment that gets made automatically if you're eligible.

Helping to keep you out of debt

Third-party deductions or fuel direct payments - If you receive certain benefits, you can pay your energy bills or debt over time directly out of your benefits.

Extra support through the Household Support Fund - The government launched a £500m support fund in October 2021. Local councils were awarded extra funding to help customers through the winter. Anyone needing support should contact their local council who can help them access the fund. Read more about the funding and how it works.

Other services that can help you manage your energy and save

Join our customers who are cutting their usage and bills

It's important now, more than ever, to stay in control of your energy. With a smart meter and our free Energy Hub, you'll easily be able to track your energy usage and see where you can save so that you can lower your bills and your carbon footprint.

Smart benefits include:

Upgrade your meter at no extra cost
Receive more accurate bills, keep in control and view the cost of your energy
Get a better idea of where you use energy in your home with Energy Hub(1)
Save up to £82 with our free Energy Hub platform(2). Smart meter required

Book your installation now Got a smart meter. Check out your Energy Hub

With energy bills rising - act now to help save you money this winter!

Here are the savings insulation can save you on your bills each year:

Cavity wall and loft insulation together can save you up to £1,280 per year on bills(3)
Solid wall insulation installed can save you up to £930 per year on bills(4)

Get a quote

Advice on what you can do at home to save energy

Read our tips on energy saving at home. Some of these are easy to do and completely free.

See what else we're doing to help our customers

We're proud to offer our customers

Zero Carbon

Britain's biggest generator of zero carbon electricity(5)

Zero Hassle

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Value & Control

Fixed Tariffs, Electric Vehicles, Low Carbon Heat, Energy Hub
Find out more

Notes

Energy Hub is accessible in MyAccount. It is available for residential smart metered customers that have both electricity and gas supplied by EDF on a single rate tariff, or those who are supplied electricity by EDF on a single rate tariff. The smart meter must also be commissioned.
Save up to £82 with Energy Hub. Savings estimated on a sample from April 2020 to April 2022 of 1500+ customers who started using Energy Hub with Energy Breakdown and logged in 5+ times between April 2021 – April 2022. Costs based on Ofgem typical annual consumption positioned against projected Standard (Variable) consumption costs for January 2023 – December 2023.
Estimates based on a gas-heated detached home. Figures are based on fuel prices as of October 2022. Source: Energy Saving Trust for roof and loft insulation and cavity wall insulation.
Source: Energy Saving Trust

UK Fuel Mix disclosure information, published by Government Department BEIS, recognises electricity from wind, solar and nuclear fuel produces zero carbon dioxide emissions at the point of generation.

The zero-carbon electricity purchased is supplied to the National Grid. Customers receive electricity via the National Grid, not directly from zero-carbon generators.

The below table summarises zero-carbon generation by company demonstrating EDF generating 34.3%. The data supporting the table below and the % values is sourced from a mixture of industry settlement data and the UK government renewable obligation database.

ZERO-CARBON GENERATION SUMMARY BY COMPANY		2021	2021
Supplier name	zero-carbon	GWh of zero-carbon electricity generation	% of overall zero-carbon electricity generation
EDF	zero-carbon	34,230	34.3%
CENTRICA	zero-carbon	8,248	8.3%
RWE	zero-carbon	3,958	4.0%
E.on	zero-carbon	982	1.0%
SSE	zero-carbon	4,770	4.8%
ScottishPower	zero-carbon	3,792	3.8%
Drax	zero-carbon	-	-
Orsted	zero-carbon	7,798	7.8%
EPH	zero-carbon	-	-
Equinor	zero-carbon	1,018	1.0%
Vattenfall	zero-carbon	1,468	1.5%
Fred Olsen Renewables	zero-carbon	698	0.7%
Macquarie	zero-carbon	2,926	2.9%
Ventient Energy	zero-carbon	482	0.5%
Statkraft	zero-carbon	303	0.3%
Eneco	zero-carbon	309	0.3%
Falck Renewables	zero-carbon	201	0.2%
RES	zero-carbon	228	0.2%
SGRE	zero-carbon	215	0.2%
Greencoat	zero-carbon	581	0.6%
Community Windpower	zero-carbon	283	0.3%
OTHER	zero-carbon	27,229	27.3%
TOTAL	zero-carbon	99,772	100%