£1.8bn paid out in 1st month of government energy scheme

New figures showed the EBSS successfully provided a £66 discount for 97 per cent of eligible households in England, Scotland and Wales in its first month.

This is the first payment made through the EBSS since it launched in October and will see households receive a £400 discount on energy bills paid in six monthly instalments. The second instalment of the EBSS will reduce households’ November energy bills, which brings the total amount spent on the scheme so far to £3.8 billion.

Vouchers were sent to all 2 million customers with traditional prepayment meters. The government urged consumers to redeem vouchers as soon as possible, after figures showed only around two-thirds had already done so. Suppliers will tell customers where to redeem them, for example, at a Post Office branch or a PayPoint shop. Payzone outlets are unable to accept the vouchers.

From December onwards, the amount discounted from energy bills will increase to £67 as the scheme continues to provide support to households over the winter months.

Administered by energy suppliers, the scheme is designed so customers receive the rebate in the same way that they pay their energy bills, such as via direct debit, credit, smart meters, and traditional prepayment meters.

For those who have not yet received the discount for October, the government said this was down to factors such as issues around a customer’s bank details where they pay via direct debit and customers on prepayment meters who are yet to redeem the vouchers.

Most people should get the payment directly, but if they use a traditional prepayment meter, they’ll be sent monthly vouchers that they can redeem at their local shop or Post Office. If customers haven’t received the first two payments, they should contact their energy supplier as soon as possible.

Vouchers expire after 90 days to ensure it helps people over the winter months but can be reissued by the supplier on request. Suppliers must make several attempts to contact customers who have not redeemed their vouchers, with the scheme also allowing for consumers to transfer EBSS payments from electricity meters to gas meters. All vouchers must be redeemed by 30 June 2023.