Warm Home Discount Scheme Opens Early: Apply Now
Energy bills are set to soar to their highest in more than a decade for around 15 million households this winter. Fortunately, there is help on hand for struggling households, thanks to government schemes and grants such as the Warm Home Discount.
The Warm Home Discount is a one-off rebate of £140 that is designed to help cover the cost of heating your home. This year’s scheme was set to officially open on 18 October 2021, but many energy suppliers are already offering the chance to register and apply early.
At the time of writing, providers including E.ON, Npower, Scottish Power, Utilita and Utility Warehouse are already taking applications for the 2021/22 Warm Home Discount. Meanwhile, others, including British Gas, EDF, Octopus Energy and SSE are now registering customer interest in the scheme.
As the Warm Home Discount is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, it’s recommended to check with your provider to see if you are eligible as soon as possible.
Energy bills on the rise again
The extra support the Warm Home Discount offers will come in handy for many households this year, particularly as energy bills are expected to rocket for around 15 million homes. This follows the announcement by market regulator Ofgem that it will raise its energy price cap, the maximum amount suppliers can charge customers.
From 1 October 2021, those on standard variable tariffs paying by direct debit will see an increase of £139 from £1,138 to £1,277, while prepayment customers will see energy bills rise by £153 from £1,156 to £1,309.
Which suppliers are open for Warm Home Discount applications?
Open for applications:
Open for registration:
- Affect Energy
- Boost
- British Gas - How to register
- British Gas Evolve
- Bulb
- Co-op Energy
- EDF - How to register
- London Power
- M&S Energy
- Octopus Energy
- OVO Energy
- Qwest Energy
- Roar Power
- SSE (including SSE Atlantic) - How to register
What other support is available this winter?
The Warm Home Discount is just one of several home energy grants and schemes available for those who may require a little extra help paying their energy bills. These include:
You can also save on your energy bills by switching to a supplier that offers a deal below the energy price cap. There are plenty of options available, especially if you're willing to commit to a fixed tariff for a period of time, and we always recommend shopping around before settling with one energy provider.