Over 6 Million UK Households Receive Warm Home Discount Next Winter

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has announced an extension of the £150 Warm Home Discount to an additional 2.7 million households across Great Britain, bringing the total eligible households to just over 6 million to help with fuel costs next winter. The scheme, introduced in 2011, requires larger energy suppliers to provide low-income households with direct rebates on their electricity bills, and recent changes have removed some eligibility restrictions so that all bill payers on means-tested benefits now qualify. While the increase in eligible households and total funding is welcomed as a lifeline for those in fuel poverty, critics, including National Energy Action head of policy Matt Copeland, warn that the rebate value has not kept pace with inflation, increasing by only £10 despite energy bills rising by hundreds of pounds annually. Copeland urges the government to develop a longer-term plan to support people who cannot afford adequate heating, including assistance with debt repayment and investments to make homes easier and cheaper to heat, especially for the lowest-income households. The government is investing £13.2 billion to upgrade up to 5 million homes, aiming to save households hundreds of pounds on energy bills each year. These measures reflect ongoing efforts to address the energy crisis and fuel poverty across various regions, including Carmarthenshire, Teignbridge, Devon, and the Forest of Dean.