Now that colder weather has arrived and with energy bills still high, many households will be worrying about the cost of keeping their homes warm this winter.
Fortunately, some energy customers with E.ON Next will be eligible for energy discounts of up to 50% and debt write-offs as part of the supplier’s recently-announced Winter Affordability Support Scheme.
Here, we take you through how the scheme works, whether you might be eligible, and what you need to do to claim the discount.
What is the Winter Affordability Support Scheme?
The scheme enables certain customers that E.ON Next deems particularly vulnerable to receive considerable discounts on their energy bills over the coming winter, when energy bills tend to be the highest. The supplier says it will cover up to 50% of energy bills for eligible customers between when they sign up for the scheme, with the discount applying all the way to March 2024.
The amount you’ll get off your bills will depend on your circumstances going into the scheme:
- Eligible customers who are currently in energy debt will receive 50% off E.ON’s standard tariff for the term and, if they make these payments, have their debt from when they joined the scheme wiped at the end of the term.
- Eligible customers who have no energy debt when they join the scheme will get 25% off their tariff for the term.
The discount will be applied to your bill automatically each month once you’ve been accepted for the scheme.
E.ON has also said it will continue to push for increased financial measures from the government, such as the introduction of social tariffs for energy – that is, cheaper packages for those claiming Universal Credit and other benefits.
Am I eligible for the scheme?
The Winter Affordability Support Scheme is available to existing E.ON Next customers from before the 25th September 2023 who meet any of the following criteria:
- You have a household income of less than £19,000 a year and are eligible for core group one or two of the government’s Warm Homes Discount scheme (or the broader group if you live in Scotland). This applies to most people on some form of government benefits
- You have a household income of less than £19,000 a year and an ‘income and expenditure deficit’ – that is, the money you spend each month on living costs is higher than the income you receive
- You have “certain medical dependency needs” that mean that you need energy to operate medical equipment, and are on a household income of less than £31,000 a year.
You’ll also need to agree to have a smart meter installed in your home if you don’t have one already and make energy payments via Direct Debit, unless you’re on a prepayment meter.
If you are currently on E.ON Next’s Pledge tariff, which tracks 3% below the energy price cap, you’ll need to agree to leave this deal and join the standard tariff in order to get the discount. You won’t be charged an early exit fee for doing so.
How do I apply for the scheme?
You do not need to get in touch to sign up for the scheme – E.ON Next has started contacting eligible customers already via text and email to invite them to apply for the discount.
Be wary of scams, however, as fraudsters often use fake energy discounts to take advantage of vulnerable customers. Genuine emails will come from the address “[email protected]”. Contact E.ON Next at 0808 501 5200 if you have received a message and aren’t sure whether it’s genuine.
If you think you are eligible for the scheme and have not been contacted yet, you can register your interest here.
What other help can I receive with my energy bills?
If you are not an E.ON Next customer, your supplier may still offer you help with your energy bills this winter. Find out more in our article Is your energy supplier offering grants to pay off energy debts?.
You may also be able to get free or cheaper insulation for your home under the Great British Insulation Scheme. Read more about this in our article What is the Great British Insulation Scheme.
For more advice on keeping your house warm and energy bills down this winter, our articles 11 practical tips to keep warm and save energy this winter and 13 ways to winter-proof your home contain some helpful tips. Or, you can read our guide Should I fix my energy prices? to see whether a better tariff might be available.
If you’re considering switching your energy provider, it’s worth doing plenty of research so you can be certain you’ve found the best possible deal to suit your needs. Comparison websites such as MoneySuperMarket, Uswitch and Compare the Market enable you to compare the latest energy tariffs, whether you’re looking for a fixed or variable deal.
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