A helpful new scheme has been launched to provide up to £60 million of support for energy customers this winter, as part of a wider £92 million package announced by energy supplier E.ON Next.
The new support will provide eligible, financially vulnerable customers with targeted help during some of the coldest months of the year.
Through its new Winter Support Scheme, E.ON Next will give eligible customers a credit on their accounts to help with heating costs, as well as writing off debt for some who are struggling to afford their winter energy bills.
More than 60,000 customers have been identified as eligible for the winter scheme. The aim is to not only to help people afford their energy bills this winter, but to give some the fresh start and route they need to afford their energy bills into the future.
Customers who qualify are being contacted directly and may first be provided with £250 towards their winter energy bills*, with further support such as future payment plans and smart meter installations discussed with customers on a case-by-case basis.
Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, said: “Our package of support is helping our most in-need customers with their energy bills.
“This £92 million package is dedicated to offering direct assistance, such as through our targeted Winter Support Scheme, to help get people out of debt – and to keep them out of debt – by working with them to understand their needs and provide ways of helping them now and into the future.
“While we work with the UK Government, regulator and consumer groups to further build out our innovative, lasting solutions to tackle energy affordability, such as our pilot scheme in Coventry, we continue to urge anyone who is struggling with their energy bills to check what support is available for them.”
E.ON Next is trialling an innovative approach in Coventry that combines short-term relief through direct financial support and debt write-off with long-term solutions that directly address the root causes of energy unaffordability.
Customers are being offered insulation, energy efficient white goods, solar panels and heat pumps – plus a battery and time-of-use tariff – to reduce their energy use and bills for years to come.
Extra support through the Warm Home Discount
In addition to the new package of support for vulnerable customers this winter, the Warm Home Discount scheme for 2024/25 is now underway.
Eligible E.ON Next customers are now receiving £150 per household* to support them with their energy bills this winter.
The energy supplier is also backing calls by Citizens Advice for an enhanced, industry-wide Warm Home Discount scheme to help even more customers and is prepared to co-fund enhancements with generators, network operators, other suppliers, and the UK Government.
Other support available from E.ON Next
Alongside the £92 million of support, E.ON Next has a range of additional support available to help its vulnerable customers.
The supplier is committed to helping its customers in various ways, including improving the energy efficiency of customers’ homes, of which E.ON Next delivered more than £440 million of support this year, and maintaining competitive tariffs.
The E.ON Next Energy Fund provides direct financial support, replacement of inefficient white goods, and debt write-off for eligible customers struggling to pay their bills, while its Priority Services Register helps vulnerable customers manage their account.
To find out more about E.ON Next’s Winter Support Scheme, visit eonnext.com.
*Subject to eligibility criteria. The Scheme is not available to Sainsbury’s Energy customers. You will have until 12pm December 20, 2024 to express an interest in being part of the Scheme. The Scheme will close on December 31, 2024, which is when all account adjustments will have been completed. E.ON Next reserves the right to stop inviting customers to join the Scheme prior to the Scheme closure date, or close the scheme to new or existing customers prior to the December 31, 2024. Eligibility and full terms and conditions can be found here.
