The Complaining Cow

How Big Energy Saving Week can help you with bills

This week is Big Energy Saving Week, run by Citizens Advice and the Energy Saving Trust.

We all know that this coming year is going to be incredibly tough for us all with energy bills. But there is some help out there…

How to save money on and complain about, energy – contains links to various helpful posts about any issue you may be having with your supplier, your rights, how to get it sorted and gain redress.

Big Energy Saving Week: how to check and query huge energy bills – my article on The Motley Fool about how you can check your bills and complain if you think your bill is wrong.

Help with energy bills

If you are really struggling to pay your energy bills, notify your supplier as soon as possible because you may be able to set up a payment plan.

Ofgem provides help with links from its page Getting help if you can’t afford your energy bills. Its rules state that suppliers must work with you to help you if you are in financial difficulty.

This might include setting up a payment plan, payment breaks, more time to pay, access to hardship funds or providing details to the Priority Register. If you are vulnerable you should be on your supplier’s list.

There may also be access to hardship funds and grants from various other organisations. You may also be able to get 60 days’ space from creditors to focus on getting debt advice and setting up a debt solution.

You can also get debt advice from Citizens Advice, StepChange and National Debtline.

In summary, if you are having problems talk to your energy supplier, they are obliged to help you.