Advice Direct Scotland is urging Scottish households using a prepayment meter for gas or electricity to redeem energy rebate vouchers before the end of the month before the £66 October top-ups expire.
The monthly vouchers are part of the UK Government’s £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme aimed at helping an estimated 29 million households combat rising fuel bills. Almost one in five households across Scotland use a prepayment meter for all or part of their energy supply.
Scotland’s national energy advice service is also reminding people to take action if they have not received their vouchers yet. The UK Government has previously said that energy suppliers are being monitored for scheme participation and must make at least three separate attempts to contact customers about vouchers, especially if they have not been redeemed.
The charity said it received more than 1,000 enquiries directly related to the Energy Bill Support Scheme in the final quarter of 2022.
Most households will have £400 automatically taken off their electricity bills in six instalments across the winter, or will have the money added to their account or smart meter.
However, those on a traditional prepayment meter need the vouchers to get the discount. Vouchers worth £66 were sent out by post, email or text message - depending on the supplier - to prepayment meter customers from the start of October.
However, the prepayment vouchers are only valid for 90 days - meaning those issued in October are due to expire.
But all is not lost as energy suppliers can reissue lost or expired vouchers - up until the scheme closing date of June 30, 2023.
Advice Direct Scotland wants to make sure that households do not miss out by:
- Checking unopened mail - in case the vouchers have been missed
- Checking with energy suppliers - using contact details found on bills, statements, and official websites
- Contacting energyadvice.scot if there are any difficulties getting through to suppliers or resolving issues
The team can be contacted on 0808 196 8660 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm), or through www.energyadvice.scot.
Full details on the Energy Bills Support Scheme can be found on GOV.UK here.
Colin Mathieson, spokesperson for Advice Direct Scotland, said: “With the recent rise in energy prices, and more on the horizon, it is vital households get the support they’re entitled to. Energy companies should reissue vouchers that haven’t been received and check customers are getting support in the most suitable format, be it text, post or email.
“We would urge any householder in Scotland who has a prepayment meter to check whether they have been sent a voucher and use it, and also to keep an eye out for the following vouchers when they arrive.”
He added: “If you haven’t received your vouchers, you should get in touch with your energy supplier or Advice Direct Scotland’s advisers.
“If you aren’t sure if your supplier has your correct contact details, get in touch with them and check, otherwise they won’t be able to tell you how to access the payment.”
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