THOUSANDS of energy customers with a major supplier are being given freebies to help them manage with high bills.
Utilita, which has around 800,000 customers, is giving away air fryers and electric blankets to the most vulnerable low income households.
The help is part of the energy provider’s Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Around 10,000 are getting the energy-saving gadgets ahead of the winter season when energy bills tend to be higher as the weather is colder.
To be eligible for the help, you must be in receipt of benefits or receiving the guaranteed portion of pension credit, which is a benefit to help those on state pension with low income.
If you are receiving benefits your house must also meet the “high energy costs” rules.
And you don’t even need to ring the energy company to apply.
The Government carries out checks based on the data it has for your households in receipt of benefits, which it then passes on to the energy company directly.
From this data, the energy company determines who is eligible for the freebies – and contacts them directly.
If you think you should be eligible, then keep an eye on your post or your email.
The energy company has asked that customers do not contact them directly – to keep the phone lines open for urgent customer queries.
Typically an electric blanket will set you back between £30 and £100 pounds depending on the size and model.
Meanwhile, you can pick up a decent air fryer for arounf £50.
It means the freebies can save people around £105, on average, though this can vary depending on the exact model.
Not only that, but the gadgets can help reduce energy costs.
Heated blankets are cheaper to run than turning the heating on throughout the house. An air fryer is also cheaper to run than an oven.
It’s not just Utilitia offering extra support to customers to help make ends meet.
Help available can depend on the time of year and your supplier, so it’s best to check with your directly if you’e struggling.
Octopus Energy has offered customers free electric blankets through its £30million Octopus Assist fund before.
The energy firm, which services over five million customers, dished out the money-saving gadgets to the most vulnerable last winter/
THERE'S a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have grant schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill, and some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
This means those most likely to receive help are the elderly and those with mobility issues or other medical conditions.
Ovo Energy has also offered money-saving gadgets to households through a £40million fund.
Customers struggling to pay bills were given free energy-saving items like electric throws and mattress toppers, LED bulbs, smart plugs and free boiler servicing.
White goods, including fridges, ovens and washing machines and air fryers are also being dished out by local councils in some areas – see out guide on how to get them.
Meanwhile British Gas has launched a new scheme to help wipe energy debts.
Its debt matching scheme means, for example, that if customers pay off £100, British Gas will pay off £100 too, effectively wiping half the amount owed and getting them back on track sooner.
Energy companies such as British Gas, EDF Energy, Scottish Power and Ovo Energy are offering free boilers for some of their customers to help them reduce their costs, as well as grants
British Gas and Scottish Gas also have grants for customers of up to £2,000.
Most of the major suppliers are also installing free smart meters into customer’s homes to help them keep track of what they are spending.
