Octopus hands customers £412 off energy bills after Winter Fuel Payment cut

Octopus Energy has announced help for "customers in need" - including free electric blankets. Octopus Energy has marked Fuel Poverty Awareness Day by reminding customers struggling with rising energy bills that support is available.

A £30 million ‘Octo Assist’ fund offers targeted support, including extra help for pensioners hit by Winter Fuel Payments cuts. So far, the fund has supported over 85,000 vulnerable customers. The company has also set up a team of social workers who help pension-age customers claim extra government support they are entitled to, leading to up to thousands extra per year for some.

Other Octopus tools and schemes for customers to reduce energy costs include free Electric Blankets which can slash winter heating costs by £300 on average, as well as Heat Loss Cameras, in-person home visits again this winter, giving customers bespoke practical energy-saving advice and free power when wholesale electricity prices plummet, helping them lower their bills while supporting a greener energy system.

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The company is also offering variable recurring payments (VRPs), such as direct debits, and is calling on other suppliers to do the same. These allow customers to spread their energy costs into smaller, more manageable payments, which can save low-income households who currently pay on receipt of bill up to £112 annually.

On top of a a electric blanket, it would mean a £412 saving. Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, Chief Product Officer at Octopus Energy, explains: "We know many customers are struggling with their energy bills this winter, and we urge anyone in need to get in touch. There’s help available.

“It’s become abundantly clear that our energy system is broken. Bills are too high, and the benefits of green energy aren’t reaching consumers. To truly lower costs for everyone, we need to change the rules of the market and enable regional pricing. Otherwise, the costs of our inefficient energy system will just keep piling up."