Energy
Warm Spaces
Free, welcoming spaces open during the winter months for residents struggling with heating costs.
Heating costs
If you’re struggling with heating costs, you might qualify for government support:
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The Warm Home Discount Scheme means you could get a winter discount on your heating bills if you receive Pension Credit or are on a low income.
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If you were born on or before 25 September 1956, you could be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment and Pensioner Cost of Living Payment (between £250 and £600) to help you pay your heating bills.
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You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits or Support for Mortgage Interest.
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Help for Households - Get government cost of living support
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The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme - a government backed initiative aimed at improving the energy efficiency rating of thousands of homes across Great Britain and reducing homeowners’ energy bills.
Energy advice
Age UK Bolton can help with Energy Advice.
Find out about Energy efficiency in the home
- Energy Guidance and Efficiency - Free, impartial advice on energy from Bolton’s Money Skills Service
- Lowering your household bills - gas, electric & water - Advice from Be One Homes
- Energy saving advice and information regarding Electricity North West’s Extra Care Service (power cuts)
- Priority Services | United Utilities - Information regarding United Utilities (water supplier) Priority Service for customers who need extra support.
- Learn how to save money on your energy bills with the Energy Saving Trust
- Uswitch - compare prices for energy
- Get help from Ofgem - the independent energy regulator for Great Britain
Pre Payment Meter Debt
Think your pre-payment meter is charging you too much?
The money you put in a gas or electricity pre-payment meter not only pays for fuel you are using but also any debts you have built up in previous months.
Debts that are added to pre-payment meters include:
- Current and accrued standing charges, which is a daily cost added to the meter even when its not being used i.e. during the summer months.
- Any types of emergency credit you have used in the past
- Any other debt you owe
Need help?
Ring your supplier and ask for all your debt to be moved into a repayment plan and ask for the minimum amount to be deducted for each supply, which can be as low as £3.75 a week for each meter.
What happens next?
Your supplier will explain the process as this can vary, but a signal should be sent to your meter to move the debt to ‘the back of the queue for repayment’. However, you may need to top up your meter a couple of times to activate the plan.