If you cannot afford to pay your energy bills

If you’re having problems paying your energy bills, help may be available.

Contact your supplier

Talk to your energy supplier as soon as possible.  They’ll work with you to agree a payment plan based on what you can afford. They can also give you advice on how to use less energy.

They might also have funds or grants you can apply for.

The following energy suppliers have grants available for their customers:

• British Gas Energy Support Fund
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund
• Ovo Energy Fund
• E.ON Energy Fund
• E.ON Next Energy Fund
• EDF Energy Customer Support Fund
• Bulb Energy Fund
• Octopus ‘Octo Assist Fund’
• Shell Energy Support Fund

If your supplier is not listed you should contact them directly to check what support they can give you.

Where else you could get help from

You could get financial help from:

• the government
• charities

What you can get depends on your personal circumstances.

Find out what financial help you could get.

Contact Advice Direct Scotland

Advice Direct Scotland can help if you:

• have issues with your supplier
• want to complain to your energy supplier
• are having problems with your energy bills

Prepayment meter support

You can get help with a prepayment meter from Citizens Advice Scotland.

This includes help and advice if you:

• cannot afford to top up your prepayment meter
• want to stop your supplier moving you to a prepayment meter
• are ill or disabled and find it hard to use or top up a prepayment meter

If you're not connected to a gas supply

If you're off grid and use an alternative solid or liquid fuel, for example oil or coal, you can get help from the Fuel Bank Heat Fund. Contact one of the Fuel Bank Foundation’s registered partners to apply.

More help with energy costs

You could also get help and advice from these organisations:

• Age Scotland has guidance for older people on energy and how to reduce your bills
• Home Energy Scotland may help you save energy and reduce your bills
• Fuel Bank Foundation mayhelp you with money for your pre-payment meter
• Scottish Federation of Housing Associations may offer support to social housing tenants. Ask your landlord to find out what help you might be able to get.