Recommended schemes for residents
If you are having trouble affording your energy bills, there is day-to-day energy saving advice available that can help keep costs down throughout the week.
For longer term savings, smart meters can be installed in the home to measure how much gas and electricity is being used. This exact data is then sent to your energy supplier, meaning you only pay for what you use instead of paying for estimated rates.
- Winter fuel payment
- Cold weather payment
- Warm Home Discount Scheme
- Priority Services Register
- Better Homes, Better Health
- Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Winter fuel payment
Residents may be eligible for between £100 and £300 tax-free to help pay your heating bills if born on or before 5 May 1953 - this is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’. Call the winter fuel helpline number on 03459 15 15 15 to find out more.
Cold weather payment
Some people who receive benefits can also get a Cold Weather Payment of £25 if the temperature drops below freezing in their local area for seven days in a row.
Residents need not apply – if eligible, it will be paid automatically in the same way that people receive their benefits.
Warm Home Discount Scheme
Residents could get £150 off the electricity bill for winter 2023 to 2024 under the Warm Home Discount Scheme. The money isn’t paid to you - it’s a one-off discount on your electricity bill, between early October 2023 and 31 March 2024.
If eligible, residents will receive a letter by early January 2024. If a letter is not received and you think you’re eligible, you must contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme before 29 February 2024.
Residents may be able to get the discount on their gas bill instead if the supplier provides both gas and electricity.
There are two ways to qualify for the Warm Home Discount Scheme:
- residents receive Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit - known as the ‘core group’
- residents on a low income and meet the energy supplier’s criteria for the scheme - known as the ‘broader group’
Priority Services Register
The Priority Services Register is a scheme which offers extra free services to disabled people, pensioners, and those with long-term ill health. It is run by energy suppliers. Services which might be available include:
- Advance notice of planned power cuts
- Priority support in an emergency
- Identification scheme
- Communications to someone you have nominated
- Meter reading services
- Accessible information (for example, in larger print or Braille)
To be sure to receive additional services, residents must sign up to their supplier’s Priority Services Register.
If there is a different supplier for both electricity and gas, residents must register with each. If you have a carer, they can register on your behalf. There is no charge and you can register for all or some of the services.
Better Homes, Better Health
Better Homes, Better Health provides a free package of support to help eligible Hounslow residents improve their homes, keep warm, and save money on energy bills.
The service aims to promote wellbeing and reduce incidences of ill-health during winter through phone consultations with trained energy advisors. Referrals can be made by individuals, or on behalf of a friend or family member.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) has been launched by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy to lessen the upfront cost of low carbon heating technologies for property owners whilst improving building energy efficiency, reducing energy bills, and cutting carbon emissions.
Residents may be eligible to apply if living in England or Wales, and own a property. From Monday 23 October 2023, installers will be able to apply for new increased grant amounts. BUS funding is available for any new heating systems that were commissioned on or after 1 April 2022, and meet all the requirements outlined in the scheme guidance.
