Energy Rebate Scheme Kicks Off To Help Poorer Pensioners

Nearly 250,000 pensioners will start to get £80 off their next electricity bills from this month, following an agreement between the leading energy providers and the Government.

The one off rebate, which is set to cost a total of £20 million, will be paid to the pensioners most in need of help with their energy costs.

The type of person who will be eligible for this pay out will be in a household where at least one person is aged 70 or over, receiving the guaranteed element of Pension Credit but not the savings credit element, are responsible for the electricity account where they live and don’t already benefit from a discounted tariff.

This did mean that the Department of Work and Pensions had to share some personal information with the energy companies involved, however the benfits to the recipients outwieghed the slight privacy concerns in doing this.

The energy companies participating in this scheme are British Gas, EDF Energy, E.ON, npower, ScottishPower, and Scottish and Southern Energy and their subsidiary companies. It still makes sense for pensioners to shop around to find the cheapest energy supplier and to switch to the energy company that offers them the best deal.

Commenting on the rebate scheme, Energy and Climate Change Minister Gregory Barker, said:

“This scheme is a huge step forward in the way we help the most vulnerable people in society pay their fuel bills in the future. Fuel poverty remains a massive concern and the coalition government is committed to being far more effective in the way it helps those most in need.”