Grants and schemes to help with energy bills

Energy advice

Everyone can have a free energy check on their home and advice about energy efficiency on their property. Phone Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.

You may also be entitled to a check on entitlement to benefits and tax credits and discounts on energy rates. You may also get help with form filling if you are 60 or over.

Green Deal Scheme

The Green Deal Finance Company (GDFC) was set up to lend money to Green Deal providers. 

The UK Government decided to stop funding the GDFC in 2015 – instead, it's now operated by a private company under the same name.

If you're a consumer of a green deal scheme

You won't be affected if your Green Deal improvements have already been made and you're making repayments through your electricity bill. Your Green Deal provider will still be responsible for any warranties or maintenance specified in your contract with them. 

Contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 for other advice on energy efficient improvements you can make to your home.  

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual one-off payment to help you pay for heating during the winter. 

More about the Winter Fuel Payment

You can also find out more about the Winter Fuel Payment on the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk.

Cold weather payments

Cold weather payments are one-off payments to help you pay for extra heating costs when it’s very cold.

You’ll get a payment each time the temperature drops below a specific temperature for a set period of time.

You’ll only be eligible if you already get:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit

More about cold weather payments

Warm Home Discount Scheme

You might be able to get £140 off your electricity bill under the Warm Home Discount Scheme if you’re either:

• getting the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit
• on a low income

Check with your supplier to see if they offer the Warm Home Discount - not all suppliers are part of the scheme.

If you've applied for the Warm Home Discount but you switch supplier before you get the payment, you have to apply again with your new supplier. Your new supplier might have different rules about who gets the discount. This doesn’t affect you if you get the discount automatically, without having to apply.

Find out more about the Warm Home Discount Scheme on the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk.

Energy efficiency schemes funded by the Scottish Government

If you find it hard to heat your home a package of help is available to people across Scotland. There may be special services and different levels of support available depending on your circumstances. The current schemes are:

• Area Based Schemes (ABS)
• HEEPS: Warmer Homes Scotland. This scheme opened on 1 September 2015
• Home Energy Scotland loan. This scheme opened on 2 May 2017

The Home Energy Efficiency Programmes (HEEPS) schemes closed to new applicants are:

• HEEPS: Affordable Warmth
• HEEPS: Energy Assistance Scheme
• HEEPS: cashback scheme
• HEEPS: loan scheme 
• HEEPS: Gas Infill Loan Scheme

You can find out about all of these schemes by contacting the Home Energy Hotline on 0808 808 2282 run by Home Energy Scotland. This includes closed schemes that you participated in. 

Survey of the property

To be eligible for most Scottish Government energy efficiency schemes, there must be a report carried out at the property before installation starts. You can call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to find out how to get a report.

The report normally required is called the Green Deal Advice Report, also known as the Green Deal assessment. They still have these titles although the Green Deal Scheme is closed for new applicants. There is information about the Green Deal Advice Report on the Energy Saving Trust website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk. 

There is information about the Green Deal scheme on the GOV.UK website at www.gov.uk.

Grants to help pay off your energy debts

If you’re in debt to your energy supplier, you might be able to get a grant from a charitable trust to help pay it off.

The following energy companies offer grants and schemes that are open to anyone - you don't have to be a customer:

• British Gas Energy Trust
• E.on Energy Fund
• EDF Energy Trust.

There are also companies who offer grants specifically for their customers:

• npower Energy Fund
• Scottish Power Hardship Fund
• Ovo Energy Fund
• SSE (Southern Electric) Priority Assistance Fund - check if you're eligible by calling 0800 072 8616.

When you apply for a grant, you'll have to provide detailed information about your financial situation in your application. It could take a while to complete, and it might be worth getting help applying. 

The charity Charis Grants can help you with the application. Alternatively you can get help from a Citizens Advice Bureau - where to get advice.

Before you apply

Charitable trusts like you to show that you have received debt advice before you apply. Debt advice can help you manage your debts and increase your chances of making a successful application. You can get debt advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau - where to get advice.

Home Energy Scotland loan scheme funded by the Scottish Government

The Home Energy Scotland loan scheme opened on 2 May 2017. It is available on a first come, first served basis subject to availability of funds. Funding up to £32,500 per home is available to owner occupiers and eligible registered private sector landlords in Scotland for energy efficiency improvements, home renewables systems or connections to an approved district heating scheme powered by a renewable energy source. Gas connection is also part of the measures.

There is more information about the Home Energy Scotland loan scheme, including the eligible energy efficiency measures and loan repayment periods, on the Energy Saving Trust Scotland website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

If you want to apply, or you have any questions about what you can get a loan for, contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.

Home Energy Scotland renewables loan scheme funded by the Scottish Government

The Home Energy Scotland renewables loan scheme was replaced by the Home Energy Scotland loan scheme on 2 May 2017.  

If you have any questions about a loan under this scheme, contact Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282.

There is general information on support for renewable energy on the Energy Saving Trust Scotland website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Local authority grant or loan

There may be other help available with home insulation and energy efficiency. Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 to find out what is available.

Landlords and energy saving measures

Incentives for landlords

If you are a tenant, you should contact your landlord to check if there are any schemes in operation to improve the property you live in. There are special standards for public sector landlords.

If you are a private landlord, your property may be eligible for the Home Energy Efficiency Programmes (HEEPS). Private sector landlords can call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282 for advice and information on all schemes available.

The Energy Saving Trust in Scotland has a template letter that a tenant can use to ask a private landlord to consider making the rented property more energy efficient. It is available on the Energy Saving Trust website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Green Deal for landlords

Landlords may have made energy efficiency improvements under the Green Deal, but the tenant had to agree to this.

Resource Efficient Scotland SME loans 

The Resource Efficient Scotland SME loans scheme provides interest free loans to help private sector landlords install measures to improve the energy efficiency of their properties. Loans are also available towards the installation of renewable technologies.  

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

Landlords who install or have already installed an eligible renewable heating technology could receive quarterly payments over seven years through the UK Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). 

Feed-in Tariffs

Landlords who install an electricity-generating technology from a renewable or low-carbon source (such as solar PV or wind turbines) could get money from their energy supplier through the UK Government's Feed-in Tariffs scheme (FITs). 

Other energy efficiency schemes for private landlords

There are various energy efficiency schemes for private landlords. Call Home Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2282, or there are details of current schemes on the Energy Saving Trust Scotland website at www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.

Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH)

The Scottish Government has set a minimum energy efficiency standard for social housing called the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing (EESSH). Social housing is where the landlord is a public sector landlord, also known as a social housing landlord, such as the council or a housing association. The EESSH is based on minimum energy efficiency (EE) ratings. These are found on Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). Landlords have discretion to decide on the right measures for each property. The aim is to improve energy efficiency and lessen carbon emission levels. There is a tenants' guide to the Energy Efficiency Standard for Social Housing that explains the EESSH on the Scottish Government website at www.gov.scot .

More about Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs)
More about who is a public sector tenant

Connection to the mains gas supply

You may be able to apply for help to get connected to the mains gas supply network.

The Help to Heat scheme

If your home is not connected to the mains gas supply network, you may be eligible for a grant under the Help to Heat scheme, formerly the Assisted Connections scheme. There is more information on the Scotia Gas Networks website at www.sgn.co.uk.

There is a Home Energy Scotland loan for getting connected to the mains gas supply network.

Local community energy initiatives

Local Energy Scotland: locally owned renewable energy

Local Energy Scotland helps communities, and rural businesses, with advice and support to develop locally owned renewable energy. Local Energy Scotland can suggest sources of help with funds and planning and manages the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES). CARES has been established by the Scottish Government to encourage local and community ownership of renewable energy across Scotland.

There is information about their services on the Local Energy Scotland website at www.localenergyscotland.org or call Local Energy Scotland on 0808 808 2288.

The Climate Challenge Fund

The Climate Challenge Fund gives grants to communities in Scotland to help them cut carbon emissions in their community. You may be eligible for funding for energy measures as part of a community initiative. The Climate Challenge Fund is supported by the Scottish Government and is administered by Keep Scotland Beautiful. There is information about the fund on the Keep Scotland Beautiful website at ccf.keepscotlandbeautiful.org.

Useful contacts

Home Energy Scotland

Home Energy Scotland is a national advice network funded by Scottish Government to provide comprehensive, free, independent and impartial advice to households on saving energy, cutting fuel bills and making homes warmer. It is managed by the Energy Saving Trust.  

The network of local advice centres operates across Scotland giving free energy efficiency advice to householders, community groups, businesses and the public sector.

Home Energy Scotland advisers can help you access both national and local funding and other energy efficiency offers. There is a broad range of help available, including help for people not on means-tested benefits.

Call free on 0808 808 2282 to speak to a specialist adviser in your nearest Home Energy Scotland advice centre. Opening hours: Mon – Fri 8am – 8pm; Sat 9 – 5pm.

The Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust is an independent organisation that provides impartial advice about how to save energy and money. It manages a number of energy efficiency schemes funded by the Scottish Government. It runs the Home Energy Scotland service for help and advice on 0808 808 2282.

Next steps

Find out about the extra help available to you if you’re older, disabled, or chronically ill
If you need more help - Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline

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