The UK has been in a cost-of-living crisis since the end of 2021 and it doesn’t seem as though the crisis will end soon. This means that many households are living paycheck to paycheck and struggle to pay all of their bills.
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As a result, some households have decided to try and brave the winter months without turning their heating on as they simply can’t afford it. However, thanks to a scheme put in place by Utilita, you could get a £150 discount on your energy bills. Here’s everything you need to know.
Utilita offering a £150 discount on energy bills
As reported by Express, the electric and gas supplier Utilita Energy has been given a £5 million boost to help households out of food and fuel poverty. The massive fund has been split into several grants and will be offered to anyone who needs it, not just Utilita clients.
Utilita is accepting from organisations in England, Wales, and Scotland and people will be able to apply for help within a few weeks.
Newly appointed Utilita Giving executive director, Helen Boardman, said:
The affordability crisis being faced by millions of households, who have been plunged below the poverty line, is now so deep-rooted that people cannot see a way out.
Adding:
Utilita Giving’s initial £5 million fund will provide aid and debt relief to allow households to become self-sufficient once again.
People in Scotland will receive help first
According to Express, those living in Scotland will be among the first to receive the extra £150. So far, up to £500,000 has been handed out to Utilita clients who are eligible for the Warm Home Discount but will not receive it.
Ms Boardman talked about the situation in Scotland and explained that some people missed out on benefits through no fault of their own:
This is patently unfair. Imagine if the same were true for other Government benefits such as the state pension and Universal Credit…‘Yes, you are eligible, but our quota is filled, so we will not be able to make a payment to you this year.
Adding:
We cannot let politics and bureaucracy get in the way, so we are helping these homes out.
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Sources used:
Express: ‘Thousands of households to get £150 discount on energy bills with new Utilita support’