Warm Home Discount Scheme

eric*75

Hi

I am a long time British Gas electricity customer (and hater) but have done little about it. NPower supply my gas.

I am looking to swap suppliers but I signed up with BGas for the Warm Home Discount Scheme a few months back, based on 'fuel poverty' (I am appealing an ATOS / ESA decision).
I was told by BGas that I would have to stay with them to receive this £130 payment next year or lose my entitlement completely if I moved on to a new supplier.

Can anyone confirm that this would be the case or could I simply re-apply for the scheme with a new supplier.

Thanks for any advice

Joyful

You can apply for another supplier as long as they take part in the Warm Home Discount scheme (not all do) AND they have not reached their cut off date or amount of customers.

I may be wrong but I think it may only be British Gas that have the extra allowance for Fuel poor. With the other suppliers you may have to have DLA/ Child under 5 etc.

For the payment from any of the companies taking part you have to be supplied by them at the time the payment is made or you will miss out. The only variation to this is the Core Group.

rogerblack

Payment to the 'broader group' only happens for those that sign up before the funding for that energy companies scheme runs out.
I am unsure if any will run out in the next couple of weeks.
And don't know about transfers. Phone the warm front hotline of your new proposed provider

macman

Depends if switching supplier will save you £130 or more (unlikely if you use gas CH). If not, I'd stay with BG until you've banked this winter's £130.
Are you on the cheapest BG tariff though?

eric*75

Thanks to everyone for the advice - I can confirm that until April 2012, I was on the 'essentials' tariff for several years. I was told that this has now been scrapped and I am now on the standard tariff.
I do not use a lot of electricity, even less than a year ago (no washing machine or dryer now, no dishwasher, very little TV or lighting etc) and I have gas heating and cooking (plus elec microwave 3 mins a day).
I cannot really cut my useage any more (unless I give up my computer & internet) but still my bills, I feel, are too high.

I had resigned myself to staying with BGas anyhow until after the payment...

Joyful

As you are an online user check out the tariffs that are available as they will be cheaper than the standard tariff. Check for cancellation fees too.

macman

Standard tariff is always the most expensive, so an online discount tariff will save you anything up to 6%. However it may lock you into an ETC as well, should you wish to leave BG later.
Your electricity usage for the internet and computer is tiny and insignificant. Most of your power bills are for heating and hot water, so not electricity.
What is you actual annual electricity consumption in kWh's? That is what matters, not your DD amount.A typical user with gas CH and DHW would be using around 3,300kWh pa.

[Deleted User]

I missed out on the £130 last year as I had no idea about it and apparently I applied too late , but am now registered to receive it this year - Does anyone know which month it is added to your meter?

I am on prepayment meter which is the most expensive but they won't move me to billing as my credit is not good unfortunately

Do you have ANY choice of tariff on prepayment or do you have to be on the standard tariff whether you like it or not???

I was thinking about ringing them to check , but I find it frustrating if I get no-where with them

( Am worried temps are set to seriously drop next week , but don't think we get the payment till Feb / March ie towards the end of winter! )

[Deleted User]

I rang them but they gave me another no. to ring which shut @ 8pm but found out there are other options / other tariffs I could be on even on a prepayment meter ie fixed price ones till Nov 2013 etc but I find it all a bit confusing so will have a chat with them tomorrow about it

Joyful

If you go onto the BG website you will see couple of tariffs. Check them out and see which one suits you best. Also check the cancellation fees if you change supplier before the end dates.

The payment for the WHD will be sent to you by barcoded letter between January and the end of March. The post office will then credit the £130 onto your key.

~Chameleon~

cazzap06 wrote: »

I missed out on the £130 last year as I had no idea about it and apparently I applied too late , but am now registered to receive it this year - Does anyone know which month it is added to your meter?

Next March/April