British Gas & Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS)

irishesman

Hi all
i might has missed this elsewhere, but I received an email from British Gas today with the details of how the payment for the government Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) will be distributed. My understanding was that the monthly payments were being credited to the electricity account, but according to BG, BG will be crediting my bank account with it every month. 

Was my understanding wrong? If correct, I can see lots of families using this money for things other than energy costs.

Apologies if I’ve totally misunderstood the scheme 

MattMattMattUK

irishesman said:

Hi all
i might has missed this elsewhere, but I received an email from British Gas today with the details of how the payment for the government Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) will be distributed. My understanding was that the monthly payments were being credited to the electricity account, but according to BG, BG will be crediting my bank account with it every month. 

Was my understanding wrong? If correct, I can see lots of families using this money for things other than energy costs.

Apologies if I’ve totally misunderstood the scheme 

Within the rules of the scheme the suppliers have some leeway to the exact implementation of the system, some will follow British Gas, others will reduce Direct Debits.

People will use it for whatever they want anyway, not if they paid less for energy then they could spend more on food, or anything else that they wanted. It is a political bung, people will spend the bung however they want.

Mobtr

irishesman said:

Hi all
i might has missed this elsewhere, but I received an email from British Gas today with the details of how the payment for the government Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) will be distributed. My understanding was that the monthly payments were being credited to the electricity account, but according to BG, BG will be crediting my bank account with it every month. 

Was my understanding wrong? If correct, I can see lots of families using this money for things other than energy costs.

Apologies if I’ve totally misunderstood the scheme 

Totally agree. It’s fine for those whose direct debit covers their usage but for those that it doesn’t, they are still in the same position and yes, they can pay it back in but how many will. 

wild666

My opinion is that the £67/£66 should stay in the account and the normal monthly DD should be taken. This might build up credit on some accounts but it would lower the increase come January if the supplier wanted to increase the DD, that's if the supplier takes the credit into account when working out the DD, which, IMO, they should do every time they work out usage and payments.

brewerdave

wild666 said:

My opinion is that the £67/£66 should stay in the account and the normal monthly DD should be taken. This might build up credit on some accounts but it would lower the increase come January if the supplier wanted to increase the DD, that's if the supplier takes the credit into account when working out the DD, which, IMO, they should do every time they work out usage and payments.

Also depends whether your usage is seasonal or not;  the way that BG are proposing to pay the money works well with me. My electric usage varies very little from month to month so sticking with the agreed DD is OK. Then the £66/£67 credit to my bank account will go straight onto my gas account with EDF. Gas usage is obviously much higher in the Winter with GCH.

Astria

wild666 said:

My opinion is that the £67/£66 should stay in the account and the normal monthly DD should be taken. This might build up credit on some accounts but it would lower the increase come January if the supplier wanted to increase the DD, that's if the supplier takes the credit into account when working out the DD, which, IMO, they should do every time they work out usage and payments.

I've already received an email stating that my monthly bill will simply be reduced by £66/£67 and if the bill is less than £66/£67 (hah! fat chance), then they'll put money into my bank account instead.

Section62

Astria said:

wild666 said:

My opinion is that the £67/£66 should stay in the account and the normal monthly DD should be taken. This might build up credit on some accounts but it would lower the increase come January if the supplier wanted to increase the DD, that's if the supplier takes the credit into account when working out the DD, which, IMO, they should do every time they work out usage and payments.

I've already received an email stating that my monthly bill will simply be reduced by £66/£67 and if the bill is less than £66/£67 (hah! fat chance), then they'll put money into my bank account instead.

Which supplier is that please?

Do they set a minimum amount that they will send to your bank account each time, or is it anything regardless of how little?

brewerdave

Astria said:

wild666 said:

My opinion is that the £67/£66 should stay in the account and the normal monthly DD should be taken. This might build up credit on some accounts but it would lower the increase come January if the supplier wanted to increase the DD, that's if the supplier takes the credit into account when working out the DD, which, IMO, they should do every time they work out usage and payments.

I've already received an email stating that my monthly bill will simply be reduced by £66/£67 and if the bill is less than £66/£67 (hah! fat chance), then they'll put money into my bank account instead.

Is that with BG or another supplier ??

DHolmes813

God evening, first time posting.

I am with Scottish Gas (AKA British Gas) and although I have not seen any emails from SGAS yet, I have read that I will/should receive the payment to my bank account.

My mother (85) recently widowed, is with Bulb Energy, where they have credited her Bulb account and not her bank account.

My understanding was that the payment was to be made to the individual to assist with the cost of living, are bulb correct in doing this or should my mother receive the payment directly?

QrizB

DHolmes813 said:

My understanding was that the payment was to be made to the individual to assist with the cost of living, are bulb correct in doing this or should my mother receive the payment directly?

Different suppliers (and different payment types) are handling the payments in different ways.

See this MSE article for details:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6391987/mse-news-how-youll-receive-the-400-energy-bill-discount-from-your-supplier

t0rt0ise

It doesn't matter how it's done. You're still £67 better off either way. And if you want to pay it back into your account then do so. Some people won't have enough money to be able to leave it in the account and pay a higher DD as well. People can do whatever is best for them.