Energy Bills Support Payment - British Gas PAYG Smart Meter

Simbad

I have a PAYG smart meter and like many other the £66 went all on my electricity. 

I phoned up to ask about getting some moved over to my gas. I had seen this mentioned that BG weren't doing this, but thought the more people that complain the better.

When I rung I was told that the government payment was for people's electricity only. I complained and was told it was the government's decision. I rephrased and asked if some of my electricity credit could be moved to my gas and told this wasn't possible.

But I've read that some suppliers automatically split the payment between gas and electricity, so is the line about it being a government decision a bit of a fib? As wouldn't those who are splitting it be going against government policy? And others are allowing you to move some credit over. So why are some like British Gas not doing the same?

I think I read somewhere that Martin was going to be taking the cause up? It's extremely frustrating.

[Deleted User]

The government policy was that it is given to all electricity account holders (that’s probably the bit the CS adviser was thinking about) and used for energy over the winter.

I don’t recall anywhere that specified if it could or could not be moved across to the other fuel.  On key meters, the vouchers could be used for both (because they are basically cash).  It might have been left up to suppliers to make their own choice.

You do have the option to spend the cash that would have gone on electricity on the gas account instead, but that’s not as useful because the amounts could be very different.