How to Compare Social Energy Tariffs
Social energy tariffs are designed to help families across the UK pay for their energy. These tariffs are specifically aimed at helping households that fall into the category of being in “fuel poverty”. A household is deemed to be in fuel poverty if its gas and electricity bill is equal or greater than 10% of its income.
Whilst many people may currently be on social energy tariffs, these plans are to be done away with by 2015. Other initiatives are to be introduced such as the warm home discount.
What will happen if I am on a social energy tariff?
If you are currently on a social energy tariff, then your energy supplier will have plans to slowly transition you onto a new rate. However it is important to note that not everybody who qualified for a social energy plan is eligible for the warm home discount. This means that it is important to find out what type of a plan your energy company intends to put you on.
If you are eligible for the warm home discount, then you will receive a onetime some of £135 to put towards your energy bills. To make the most of this payment, it would be wise to find the most competitive plan that is available to you. The best way to find the cheapest electricity or gas deals is by running an energy comparison on our website.
The Winter Fuel Payment
If you do not qualify for the warm home discount, then there are still other options that might help you with your energy bills. One of these is the Winter Fuel Payment, also known as the Winter Fuel Allowance.
This winter fuel payment comes from the government and is intended to help elderly people pay for gas and electricity in the colder months of the year. The payment itself is between £100 and £300, anyone over the age of 60 years old may qualify.
The Cold Weather Payment
Another way in which you may be able to get help paying your energy bills is through the Cold Weather Payment. This is similar to the Winter Fuel Allowance but is only offered during periods of extremely cold weather.
The payment itself is worth £25 per week, for every week that the temperature is below freezing. The cold weather payment only comes into effect between 1 November and 31 March and you must qualify in order to receive it.
Energy Efficiency Grants
There are also a number of grants that are available to help people manage their gas and electricity bills.
These grants are designed to help people make their homes more energy efficient. This means that not only will their homes have smaller energy bills, but also that they will be more environmentally friendly.
Some fittings such as insulation will be subsidised, others such as solar panels or more expensive installations will be paid for in the form of a loan. However these installations will undoubtedly pay for themselves over time and can therefore be a great addition to any household.