Thousands of vulnerable customers supported by EDF with £1m Heatwave Relief Initiative
- Customers are already receiving support through EDF’s new £1 million Heatwave Relief initiative that was launched in early July
- 92% of requests have come from customers with a high-risk condition under the Priority Services Register
- Support includes £20 energy credits and Heatwave Relief Packs with practical cooling equipment
EDF has now supported thousands of vulnerable customers through its £1 million Heatwave Relief initiative, as high temperatures continue across the UK.
Launched earlier this summer, the programme offers practical help during periods of extreme heat, including up to £20 in energy credit and Heatwave Relief Packs containing fans, cooling towels, blackout curtains and insulated water bottles.
The support is particularly targeted at those most at risk from extreme heat, with 92% of requests so far coming from customers with a high-risk Priority Services Register condition. The impact of hot weather can be particularly serious for older and vulnerable people, with UK Health Security Agency data showing 1,311 heat-associated deaths in England during summer 2024, and the highest mortality rates among those aged 75 and over.
Customers have also praised the support on Trustpilot, highlighting both the contents of the packs and the help they received when applying. Mrs Pamela Ruffles said she was “absolutely overwhelmed as to what is in the box”, describing it as “incredible” and saying it would “help me enormously”. Sandra Sheridan said she was “really pleased with what was actually in the pack”, adding that “everything was so useful”, while Arlynne, whose children had been struggling with the heat, said she wished she had known about the support sooner. Other reviewers have praised EDF advisers for making the application process simple and for taking the time to explain what help was available.
Joe Souto, Director of Retail at EDF, said: “As summers get hotter and periods of extreme heat become more common, we need to think differently about how we support vulnerable customers. For some people, keeping cool can be difficult and costly, so relatively simple measures can make a real difference.
“The feedback we’re receiving shows why this kind of support matters, and we want customers who are struggling with the heat to know they don’t have to manage it alone.”
Jessica Taplin, CEO of Charis who will help distribute the packages, said: "We are proud to be working with EDF to deliver practical, targeted support that reaches people when they need it most. By combining financial assistance, practical cooling equipment and trusted advice, this programme recognises that vulnerability doesn't disappear when winter ends.
As our climate changes, the way we support vulnerable households must evolve too. We hope this initiative will encourage wider recognition that protecting vulnerable consumers from extreme heat should become as much a part of customer support as helping them stay warm in winter."
EDF’s £1 million Heatwave Relief initiative forms part of its wider support for customers experiencing financial difficulty or vulnerability. Customers can find out more about EDF’s summer support and what help may be available at: https://www.edfenergy.com/about/support-for-customers.
About EDF
EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.
We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.
EDF is building the UK's nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.
EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.
It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.
We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.
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