Social tariffs for vulnerable customers

Last Updated: 23.01.2011

To help vulnerable customers cope with the high costs of gas and electricity energy suppliers offer social tariffs.

If you're struggling to keep up with the rising cost of heating your home, why not talk to your provider and see if you can be moved to a cheaper tariff? Or visit a North Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau and we'll check your eligibility to lower tariffs.

Social tariffs

All energy suppliers have to offer their most vulnerable customers cheaper tariffs. These are called social tariffs and offer cheaper energy deals and extra free services to certain customers. You may qualify for a social tariff if you are over 60, on means tested benefits or are on a low income.

If you think you qualify for a social tariff contact your energy supplier for more details.

Social tariffs and products currently on offer from suppliers

Below is a selection of the range of social products currently available on offer from energy suppliers.

British Gas Essentials Combined

British Gas' essentials tariff now includes three different packages to assist specific customer groups.

The Social Tariff version called Essentials Combined is aimed at vulnerable and low income consumers.

Key features of the package include:

• Equivalent to lowest online tariff - Websaver (latest version)
• Energy efficiency advice and benefits check offered

To be eligible consumers must have a house hold income of less than £15,000 per year and be in receipt of means tested benefits, plus meet one of the following criteria

• be on Disability Living Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• be over 70 (in receipt of Pension credit)
• suffer from a chronic illness

All consumers who were on the original Essentials tariff have been transferred to the Essentials Combined social tariff.

To find out more about the Essentials Combined Tariff call 0800 072 5230 (pre-payment consumers should call 0800 294 8604).

Also remember that British Gas consumers may be eligible for a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust to reduce or clear gas and electricity debt and help with other essential bills and costs. To find out more about the trust fund call 01733 421 060.

(Information confirmed up to date as of 15th April 2010)

EDF Energy Assist

Energy Assist is a social product offered by EDF Energy.

Its key features are:

• Eligible consumers regardless of payment method are charged on the same tariff as direct debit customers, plus there is an annual discount of £75 for dual fuel customers (pro-rata for single fuel customers)
• free energy efficiency advice
• free or discounted energy efficiency measures
• benefits entitlement check

To qualify it is necessary to be a customer of EDF Energy and either:

• spend more than 10% of their income on household energy costs each year, or
• be in receipt of Income Support and/or receive Pension Credit benefits

Consumers who were signed up to the original Energy Assist package will have been transferred to the new tariff.

Electricity prepayment customers are now able to pay the Energy Assist tariff price using their meter, rather than receiving a rebate, however prepayment gas consumers will continue to be sent rebates.

For further information on availability and eligibility criteria, please contact the EDF Energy Priority Services Team on 0800 269 450.

EDF also operate an Energy Trust fund for current EDF customers, and this is available to clear gas or electricity debt, or help with other essential bills and costs. The EDF Energy Trust can be contacted on 01733 421 060.

(Information confirmed up to date as of 29th January 2010)

Npower Spreading Warmth Tariff

The Spreading Warmth Tariff is npower's social tariff and is their cheapest tariff regardless of payment method.

The tariff offers average annual savings compared to their standard prices of over 20% (based on a consumer who has dual fuel and pays by cash, cheque or via a prepayment meter).

To be eligible a consumer must have an annual income below £13,500 and someone in the household who is either:

• 60 or over
• disabled
• chronically sick
• a child under 16

For more information regarding the Spreading Warmth tariff call 0808 172 6999.

npower also have an Energy Trust fund available for current customers. Consumers are required to pay for all energy consumption for a period of six months before the award is applied to the account so some or all of the debt is written off. As well as helping with domestic energy debt it could also be used to help clear other priority debts and purchase essential household items.

For more information regarding the energy trust scheme call 01733 421 060.

(Information confirmed up to date as of 13th December 2010)

E.ON Warm Assist social product

• Up to 15% discount on standard electricity and gas prices
• Personalised Energy Efficiency Advice
• Free energy efficiency measures
• Benefits entitlement check

To qualify you must be aged 60 or above, be on a low income and meet one of the following criteria:

• be in receipt of pension credit, or
• be in receipt of disability living allowance, or
• be in receipt of attendance allowance, or
• have high energy consumption arising from a medical condition (which is at Eon's discretion)

For more information about Warm Assist call 0800 404 6287.

(Information confirmed up to date as of 29th January 2010)

Scottish Power Fresh Start

Features offered as part of tariff:

• The tariff is equal to the cheapest Scottish Power tariff at any time regardless of payment method
• Benefits check to ensure consumers are claiming all the benefits they are eligible for
• Energy Efficiency Advice

The tariff will be available to anyone who is over the age of 60 and in receipt of one of the following social welfare benefits:

• Attendence Allowance
• Council Tax benefit (not including single occupancy discount)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Disabled Persons Tax Allowance
• Child Tax Credit (where income is less than than £15,460)
• Housing Benefit
• Income-based JSA
• State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit (where household income is less than £15,592)
• War Disablement Pension (which either includes a mobility supplement or constant attendance allowance)
• Industrial injuries disablement benefit (must also have a constant attendence allowance) 

For more information on Fresh Start call 0845 2700 700.

(Information confirmed up to date as of 1st February 2010)

Scottish and Southern Energy Energyplus Care

Energyplus Care is the social tariff offerred by Scottish and Southern Energy. (you may know this company better by the names Southern Electric, Scottish Hydro Electric, or SWALEC).

Key features include:

• Minimum 20% reduction on cheapest tariff in that geographical area
• Free energy efficiency advice
• Free energy efficiency measures (can range from low energy light bulbs to a free fridge or a discounted fridge/freezer)
• Free benefit entitlement check

You may qualify for Energyplus Care if you spend over 20% of your income on energy bills. To qualify you also must complete a questionnaire which is carried out over the phone or in person. The key categories are as follows:

• Your total household income including any benefits recieved
• Your home and how energy-efficient it is
• Your annual fuel costs
• Other additional support needs 

For more information you can contact SSE about the Energyplus Care on 0800 622 838.

(Information confirmed up to date as of 3rd February 2010)

Help switching energy supplier or tariff

There are many different types of energy tariffs available and choosing the correct one for your needs can help you save energy. Changing energy supplier can also be one of the easiest ways to save money on your gas and electricity bills.  However with so many different deals out there and different criteria of eligibility it can be confusing.

If you are finding it difficult to heat your home or finding it difficult to pay your energy bills visit a North Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau and speak to an energy adviser who will provide you with information and help with your energy problems.

You can find our contact details at the bottom of the page, our hours of business can be found on our opening hours page, alternatively, you can email us via our contact us page.