Several months after £400 worth of support on energy bills was announced for all mainstream energy consumers, and at least one month later than planned, an alternative payments scheme has been announced for those who do not have a domestic electricity supply, either directly or through an intermediary, and who would therefore otherwise miss out on the mainstream EBSS.
Eligible households in England, Scotland and Wales are now able to apply for support via an online form on GOV.UK (see below). There will also be a helpline to assist customers who do not have online access. Local authorities will deliver the payment to households.
Groups likely to be eligible for these alternative payments include the following:
- park home residents
- housing association, social and private tenants, and leaseholders, supplied via a landlord with a commercial meter
- partly and wholly self-funded care home residents
- households in houseboats on residential moorings
- households on a private electricity network, for example, those supplied by a heat network
- off-grid households
- traveller households on authorised sites
- households who live in a dwelling on business premises that is used wholly or partly for domestic purposes
- households in temporary/supported accommodation.
The eligibility criteria for these payments are:
- The household that support is being claimed for is the main or only home address of the person to receive the support.
- The resident or applicant is responsible for paying the household energy bill. This means either directly or as part of a service charge, rent, or other arrangement and may have the impact of increased energy bills costs passed on to them between 1 October 2022 – 31 March 2023.
- The household is not already receiving EBSS payments in whole or in part.
- The household is not a business premises or other form of non-domestic premises. It must be used solely or mainly for domestic purposes. This is except for businesses whose main business activity is to provide long term residential accommodation (landlords, etc.).
Customers who are eligible for support under the main Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) are not eligible for this EBSS Alternative Funding.
The date that a household receives the payment will depend on when they apply and when their local authority can process the payment.
To check your eligibility and to apply online, go to:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic
If you cannot apply online or need help with your application, contact the helpline team.
Email: alternativefunding@ebss.beis.gov.uk
Telephone: 0808 175 3287
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
If you know anyone who falls into the categories of energy consumer listed above please take time to notify them (if not actively help them) of this opportunity.
For more on this payment scheme, and a separate £200 ‘Alternative Fuels Payment’ for those who are not connected to the mains gas grid and use alternative fuels as the main form of heating, go to https://www.coventry.gov.uk/energyrebate .
