Octopus energy are handing out free electric blankets in their latest move to help the most vulnerable this winter.
The energy giant launched its first electric blankets scheme last winter to help customers save energy and money as it gave away 7,000 free electric blankets to customers who needed them most. This year, the energy firm have have purchased another 10,000 energy efficient electric blankets which are being offered to vulnerable households.
The new scheme, which was launched in January 2022, is one of several measures the company set up since the start of the crisis to support customers who were worried about heating costs and at risk of becoming cold. While heating a whole home costs around £4 a day, an energy-efficient electric blanket can heat a person for just 2-4p an hour.
READ MORE: Ofgem warns UK faces 'significant risk' of gas shortage this winter
Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, chief product and marketing officer at Octopus Energy Group, said: "Octopus is determined to do all we can to help customers through the crisis. We’ve subsidised prices by over £100m, created the OctoAssist fund that’s directly helped over 50,000 customers with real cash assistance and helped 250,000 customers through our Winter Workout.
“We started sending electric blankets out to customers who qualified under our financial assessment scheme after one of our scientists highlighted the energy efficiency of 'heating the human not the home' – especially for those with limited mobility.
“This analysis proves just how much difference it makes – with savings of £300 this is perhaps the single biggest thing many people can do to stay warm affordably in these tough times. This crisis is real – but alongside the government’s welcome support package, there is a lot that energy companies can do and Octopus will be relentless in finding ways to help.”
How to get a free Octopus energy electric blanket
The scheme has been open to all Octopus Energy customers and can be accessed via a quick and simple online tool which asks a series of questions about their financial situation. The distribution of the blankets is based on need, prioritising those who are struggling the most.
How much does it cost to run an electric blanket?
Electric blankets are an efficient way to heat a person and save customers from paying to heat an entire home. It currently costs less than 3p an hour to keep a person warm with an electric blanket, whilst heating a whole home could cost around £4.70 a day.
An analysis by Octopus Energy’s data team, which looked at the smart meter data of 4,190 customers who opted into the scheme, showed that customers who received electric blankets reduced their energy bills by 19% compared to a control group. This would see customers save £300 on their energy bill this year.
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