Help with energy, water, phone and broadband bills

There is support available for households with energy bills.

On this page:

Help with energy bills

Contact your energy supplier if you are struggling to pay for energy or think you may get into difficulty. If you already have energy debts, some larger suppliers offer grants to help pay this off. There is the British Gas Energy Support Fund which has grants available of up to £2,000 to support those struggling with their bills.

If you can't get a grant from your supplier, check if you can get a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust. These grants are available to anyone, you don't have to be a British Gas customer.

Ofgem also have advice on getting help if you can't afford your energy bills.

People who are experiencing hardship paying their energy bills can contact Citizens Advice New Forest on 0808 278 7860 (10am - 4pm Monday to Friday) or contact them using the Citizens Advice New Forest website.

Energy efficiency at home

We have designed a poster with energy saving tips which you can download.

Download the energy efficiency at home poster (PDF) [522KB]

Get free and impartial energy saving advice from Hampshire County Council hitting the cold spots webpage or call 0800 804 8601. Alternatively you can get advice from find ways to save energy in your home on GOV.UK or the Energy Saving Trust.

Warmer home discount scheme

You could be eligible for up to £150 discount off your energy bill from the Warm Home Discount Scheme.

Households with an income of less than £30,000 a year, living in a home with an EPC rating of E,F or G, could be entitled to energy efficiency improvements from the Warmer Homes Programme.

Help with water bills

There are three water companies covering the New Forest area. Check your water and waste water bills to see which ones you use.

They all have schemes for people who are struggling to pay their bills.

Local water companies are:

There is also support from South West Water who have a range of support options available.

Cheaper broadband and phone packages

Visit the Ofcom website for information on cheaper tariffs for eligible households.