“British Gas Energy Support Fund Relaunched, Offers Up to £2,000 in Assistance”

British Gas has relaunched its Energy Support Fund, offering up to £2,000 in assistance to households in England, Scotland, and Wales struggling with energy bills. The fund is designed to aid existing British Gas customers facing energy debt or at risk of fuel poverty during the winter. Eligible households with energy debts ranging from £50 to £2,000 on a pre-payment meter or £250 to £2,000 on a credit account can apply for support. To qualify, applicants must have sought help from a money advice agency within the last six months or utilized the online budgeting tool in their application process. Applications can be submitted on the British Gas Energy Trust website. Last year, nearly 6,000 households in England, Scotland, and Wales received assistance from the Energy Support Fund. Non-British Gas customers may be eligible for support through the Individuals and Families Fund, which provides aid for energy debts up to £1,700 on prepayment or credit accounts. Chris O’Shea, the Chief Executive of Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting customers facing financial challenges related to energy bills. The Energy Support Fund, with a total commitment of £140 million, aims to address energy debt and fuel poverty, ensuring that individuals receive necessary assistance. O’Shea encouraged individuals concerned about staying warm during the winter to apply for the fund or seek support from advice centers. The announcement follows a recent increase in energy bills, as the Ofgem energy price cap rose from £1,720 to £1,755 per year on October 1. The price cap affects the amount dual fuel households pay through direct debit until December 31, when it will be revised again. Despite the cap, energy bills are based on actual consumption of gas and electricity. The Ofgem price cap limits the charges for gas and electricity units, as well as fixed daily standing charges for energy network connections.