Jul
29

Author: Chloe Smith, Updated: 29 July 2022 15:38

From today, households right across Norwich will receive non-repayable discounts on their energy bills for the winter, as the Government sets out details of the Energy Bills Support Scheme. I know that this will provide essential support to families and households locally as we tackle the cost of living crisis after Putin's barbaric invasion of Ukraine.

The £400 discount will be administered by energy suppliers and paid to consumers over 6 months with payments starting from October 2022 to ensure households receive financial support over the winter period.

For those with a domestic electricity meter point paying for their energy via standard credit, payment card and direct debit will receive an automatic deduction to their bills over the six month period which will total to £400.

Prepayment meter customers will be provided with Energy Bill discount vouchers in the first week of each month, which will be issued to the customer's contact details. These customers will need to redeem their vouchers at their usual top-up point, such as their local PayPoint or Post Office branch.

The support that the Government has announced is part and parcel of the £37 billion of help for households, including 8 million of the most vulnerable households nationwide will receive £1,200 through direct support to help with the rising cost of living. You can see more on this here: https://www.chloesmith.org.uk/local/news/cost-of-living-payments

Norwich households will see a discount of £66 applied to their energy bills in October and November, which will rise to £67 from December to March 2023. The discount will be provided on a monthly basis regardless of whether consumers pay month or quarterly.

This will also mean that where a person’s housing circumstances change during the 6-month period, such as those leaving or moving home, they will still benefit from the relevant portion of the total £400, which will follow them.

This also applies to students and other tenants renting properties with domestic electricity contracts from landlords where fixed energy costs are included in their rental charges. In these circumstances, landlords who resell energy to their tenants should pass the discounted payments on appropriately, in line with Ofgem rules to protect and safeguard their tenants.

I know that the measures that have been announced today will be all too important for hardworking Norwich families and to protect households from the rising cost of living as we move into winter. You can see more of the support being offered locally by Norfolk County Council, here.