Help with energy costs

Around 40% of energy bill payers struggling to afford payments. If you are struggling with rising energy costs here is some information on advice and support available.

On this page:

Help with energy costs and efficiency
If you are struggling with to pay your energy bill
If you cannot afford to top up your meter
Fire safety
Seasonal Wellbeing
Winter Fuel Payment
Warm home discount
Disability Energy Support Service
Priority Services Register
Thames Water

Help with energy costs and efficiency

With the increased cost of energy, it’s important you get the most from the energy you pay for.

You can receive information, advice, and support from:

  • Citizens Advice Reading have specialist energy team. They can give advice and support with energy efficiently, bill disputes, understanding your bill and heating system and switching energy suppliers. They also have an Energy Booklet full of practical help and advice about your energy bills.
  • Our Energy Support Team help Reading residents with advice and self-help material including reading your meter, energy efficiency, switching energy supplier, lend heating equipment etc. help and advice is available throughout the year.
  • The DraughtBusters draught proofing service is available to people living in energy poverty, families with young children, the elderly, and people under debt management. They might be able to help others too if you make contact. For more information email ReadingDraughtBusters@gmail.com

If you are struggling with to pay your energy bill

If you are struggling, contact your energy provider. They have a range of options to help you including, reviewing your payment plan and or repayment plan, give more time to pay or access a hardship fund.

You can also find useful information from:

  • Help for Households is a website set up by the government with lots of useful information on.
  • Citizens Advice have a wide range of advice including if you are struggling with the cost of energy, problems with your energy bill, how to get a better deal and making a complaint.
  • Money Saving Expert have a guide on what to do if you are struggling that is full of useful information and advice.

If you cannot afford to top up your meter

If you cannot afford to top up your meter, follow the below steps:

  1. Contact your energy supplier (early morning is normally quieter)
  2. When you are asked for an account number, dial ‘0#’ on your telephone keypad, you will be told this is incorrect, dial ‘0#’ again.
  3. You will be put through to customer service, explain that you don’t have any money to top up and give a rough date when you are next due to be paid.
  4. You will be asked some questions and might need to read your meter screens.
  5. If they can help, they will generate a code, wait one hour, and then go to your local ‘Pay as you go’ store along with your energy card or key and code.
  6. The shop keeper will dial in the code and insert the key or card.
  7. Take this home, insert it into your machine and you will now have funds to use.

Remember you will need to pay this back to the supplier at a weekly rate, make sure you agree how much this will be.

Fire safety

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service have lots of useful information on staying safe at home including the option to book a safe and well visit for eligible residents.

Seasonal Wellbeing

Below is information and advice on staying well and protecting your health during the summer and winter:

If you are worried about your health or that of somebody you know, ring NHS 111.

Winter Fuel Payment

If you were born before 23 September 1958, and are receiving a qualifying means-tested benefit including Pension Credit you could receive up to £300.

For more information including the eligibility criteria, go to the Gov.uk website.

Use our quick and easy benefit checker to find out if you are entitled to Pension Credit or any other benefits or financial assistance that might mean you can receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

Warm home discount

The Warm Home Discount Scheme will open in October 2024. You will usually receive the £150 discount from your energy bill automatically if you are eligible. 

Disability Energy Support Service

Scope run a Disability Energy Support Service that’s open to all households across England and Wales in which one or more disabled people live. They provide practical advice and support if you are worried about your energy or water charges.

Service users can also access:

  • Employment – Supporting disabled people gain employment
  • Family – Supporting parents and carers of disabled children
  • Helpline – Supporting on topics such as benefits, social care, housing, and assistive technology
  • Online community – Forum for disabled people, parents, and carers to get advice and information

For more information call 0808 801 0828 or visit their website.

National Energy Action charity works to make sure that everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is warm and safe at home. You can contact them on 0800 304 7159 Monday to Friday 10am to 12pm or visit their website.

Priority Services Register

You can apply to join the Priority Services Register if you:

You can ask to join your supplier or network operator’s Priority Services Register if you:

  • Have reached state pension age
  • Are pregnant, or have young children
  • Struggle with speaking or reading English
  • Have a disability or a long-term medical condition
  • Have had a change of circumstances, for example recently bereaved, lost your job.

This can provide you with extra support including priority support in an emergency, consideration to move your prepayment meter if you can’t safely get to it to top up and priority support in an emergency.

Thames Water

If you are struggling with your water bill help is available from Thames Water. This includes ways to reduce the charge you pay, applying for help with any arrears you might have or signing up for priority services.

Last updated on 18/11/2024