Social Tariffs As Of August 2008

British Gas - Essentials
EBICo
EDF Energy
E.ON Energy - Staywarm
Npower - Spreading Warmth
Npower - First Steps
Scottish Power - Carefree Plus
Southern Electric - Energyplus Care

British Gas - Essentials, offer eligible prepayment and credit consumers the same unit prices as Direct Debit consumers. Eligibility is dependent upon the consumer receiving one of the following welfare benefits:

  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Attendance Allowance
  • War Disablement Benefit
  • Disablement Pension which includes constant Attendance Allowance
  • Child Tax Credit where income is £14600 or less
  • Working Tax Credit where the relevant income is £14600 or less
  • Council Tax Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance

Contact 0800 072 7100


EBICo - This is a small, not for profit supplier, which operates under Southern Electrics licence. EBICo was set up to help low income consumers in two ways:

  • One price for all consumers regardless of payment method eg. Prepayment meter consumers do not pay more that Direct Debit consumers
  • No standing charge or two tier pricing which benefits lower users

EBICo operates in the same way as all other suppliers and therefore any consumer can benefit from their tariffs.

Contact 0800 458 7689


EDF Energy - Energy Assist - This tariff offers a 15% reduction for consumers who fulfil at least one of the following criteria:

  • In receipt of Pension Credit
  • In receipt of Income Support
  • Are experiencing fuel poverty (spend 10% or more of income on fuel)

Contact 0800 328 9010


E.ON Energy - Staywarm - Offers fixed monthly payments agreed in advance to older people. Payment levels depend on the size of home, number of occupants and the annual consumption. This scheme used to effectively allow consumers to use as much as the needed; however, this has now been restricted - new customers must not be deemed high users and must agree to pay by Direct Debit.

Contact 0800 169 4694


Npower - Spreading Warmth - This tariff offers consumers a £125 per year discount per fuel that is supplied by Npower. The tariff is available for vulnerable consumers whose household income is less that £13500 and at least one of the following applies:

  • Over 60
  • Living with a disability or a chronic illness
  • Living with a child under 16

Contact 0800 975 1373


Npower - First Steps - This tariff is only available to Npower consumers who find themselves in debt. This offers ongoing one-to-one support, including the potential for debts to be written off.

Point to note: This scheme will only be offered to consumers who have stuck to a repayment plan for at least 6 months. In addition, there is no commitment to write off all of the debt or to do it in one go - it could be done in instalments providing consumers stick to agreed payment plan.

Consumers who qualify for help under the First Steps programme will benefit from npowers cheapest prices, these tend to be their online prices regardless of payment plan.

Contact 0808 172 6999


Scottish Power - Carefree Plus - Available to consumers who are aged 60+, do not pay by Direct Debit, standing order or fuel direct and receive at least one of the following benefits:

  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Attendance Allowance
  • War Disablement Benefit
  • Child Tax Credit where income is £14600 or less
  • Working Tax Credit where the relevant income is £14600 or less
  • Council Tax Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income Based Job Seekers Allowance
  • Disabled Persons Tax Allowance
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement benefit

The tariff offers consumers Direct Debit prices whilst paying by other methods.

Contact 0141 568 2928 or 0845 2700 2700


Southern Electric - Energyplus Care - Offers a 20% reduction on the current fuel bill, regardless of payment method. Dependant upon completion of a short questionnaire either over the phone or in person. The following will be taken into account:

  • The energy efficiency of the home
  • Annual fuel costs
  • Household income
  • Other special circumstances

Contact 0800 622 838


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