Energy Assist is the social tariff from EDF Energy. It currently offers:
For further information on availability and eligibility criteria, please contact the EDF Energy Priority Services Team on 0800 269 450.
To qualify you must be a customer of EDF Energy and spend more than 10% of your total net annual household income on annual household energy costs, or be in receipt of Income Support and/or receive Pension Credit benefits.
npower's Spreading Warmth Tariff offer's a discount of around £250* to npower customers who take both gas and electricity or around £125* to customers who only take gas or electricity.
The tariff is aimed at npower customers who have a annual gross household income of below £13,500 (about £260 a week) and in addition meet one of the following criteria:
npower works with a number of trusted partners (including Macmillan and NEA) who refer applicants to npower for consideration of eligibility for the Spreading Warmth. npower also offers a number of other schemes to support vulnerable customers including Health Through Warm (a scheme to help people whose health is being affected through living in cold, damp conditions), energy efficiency and benefit entitlement checks.
Note:* depends on consumption
E.ON - Staywarm
According to E.ON the "social" element of Staywarm offers a saving of around £400 on average (varies according to usage levels) to customers who take both gas and electricity under this arrangement. E.ON state that this saving is when compared to what the customer would pay for the equivalent amount of energy use under their equivalent open market rates. However, opacity around the Staywarm arrangement has made this difficult to verify. The 'social' element of Staywarm ensures that recipients whose high usage would otherwise mean they were paying for the standard Staywarm at the medium or high user bands pay no more than customers who receive the standard (low) user band. Staywarm is a commercial product that charges the customer a fixed amount each year based on the size and occupancy of their house and usage levels over time.
Staywarm is only available to elderly users (those 60+) and the 'social' element is further restricted to those who are 80+, or 60+ and in receipt of Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance; or are over 60+ and energy dependent for health reasons.
E.ON commence a transition from Staywarm 'Social' to CaringEnergy later this year. Customers will receive a written invitation to migrate to the new arrangement. CaringEnergy will have an emphasis on tariff assistance being offered hand in hand with (and in some instances dependent on) the installation of energy efficiency measures. This will see the level of tariff assistance reduce, but, in theory, the energy savings achieved might make up for part of this.
Scottish Power - Carefree Plus
Scottish Power's Carefree Plus is a tariff which provides cheaper energy for certain customers. It was launched in April 2008 and offers a fixed yearly saving of up to £59.35 for electricity customers and £52.21 for gas customers paid as a monthly rebate over the next 12 months.
The Carefree Plus package is available to
Carefree Register (Priority Services Register) members who are 60 years of age and over and are in receipt of one of a number of social welfare benefits. You must pay by any method other than Monthly Direct Debit, Standing Order and Fuel Direct.
Scottish and Southern Energy - Energyplus Care
Energyplus Care is a special tariff for existing consumers of Scottish and Southern Energy. (you may know this company better by the names Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro Electric, or SWALEC).
Energyplus Care provides:
- Up to 20% discount on their current fuel prices, regardless of which payment method you use.
- Free energy efficiency advice to help save even more money on future bills.
- Free energy efficiency measures, from low energy light bulbs to a free fridge or a discounted fridge/freezer.
- Free benefit entitlement check
You may qualify for energyplus Care if you spend over 10% of your total household income on your energy bills. Eligibility is assessed using a simple questionnaire which is completed either over the phone or in person.
If you believe you may qualify contact the Careline on 0800 622 838, 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturdays.
British Gas - Essentials (currently suspended until April 2009)
The Essentials Tariff is a special tariff which can save money for gas and electricity customers who pay through a prepayment meter or by cash and cheque. Customers signed up to Essentials receive a quarterly rebate.
To be eligible you must be an existing British Gas customer and be in receipt of an income related benefit such as Pension Credit, Income Support or Income-based Job Seekers Allowance.
For more information about the Essentials Tariff please call: 0845 850 2207. 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm Sat.