Originally, the guarantee was applied from 1 October 2022 until the end of March 2023. The Government has now announced that it will be extended until April 2024, but with some changes. From April 1 2023, energy unit rates are increasing by 20%. This means, the average energy bill will rise to about £3,000 for a typical household. If the support wasn’t extended, it’s projected that energy bills would have increased even further to £3,500 per year, so the extension of the scheme is still saving you money. Find out more here.
Changes for those on benefits
The Government also announced further support for those in receipt of benefits, with an additional cost of living payment of £900. We don't have full details on this yet, however it's likely to be similar to the £650 payment last year. To receive the payment, it’s likely you’ll need to be in receipt of benefits such as Universal Credit (to name one). Pensioner households will likely receive an additional £300 cost of living payment too, probably later in the year. Households who receive certain Disability Benefits will also likely receive a one-off payment of £150 in 2023.
Again, we don’t have all of the details on this yet, we’ll keep you updated as soon as we know more.
Did you know? One of the best ways to keep up with the cost of living changes, is by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Just search @OrbitHelp!
Energy myths debunked! There is so much advice surrounding energy saving nowadays that it's hard to know what is true and what is, well, a myth. Our in-house energy expert, Dan Welch, has looked at some of the popular myths and gives us the facts behind the tales. Check out our short film below.
Are there any others that you can think of? Share them with your community on social media by tagging us @OrbitHelp.
Want to save even more? The Energy Price Guarantee varies by region and how you pay. Direct Debit is the least expensive way to pay for your energy. If you pay by prepayment meter, you are usually paying 2% more than someone who pays by Direct Debit. If you pay when you receive the bill, the premium is 6% higher than someone paying by Direct Debit, that’s potentially an extra £150 a year. To find out more about the benefits of paying by Direct Debit, visit our website.
You don’t need to apply for any of the discounts and there’s no need to contact your energy supplier, it’s automatic. If you get a message telling you that you need to apply, or asking for your bank or credit card details, it could be a scam. You can report messages you think are suspicious directly to the Government
