British Gas boss ‘delighted’ as customers sent £150 payments | Personal Finance | Finance

The CEO of British Gas owner Centrica has shared his ‘delight’ after the government confirmed that millions of UK households will be sent an extra £150 off their gas and electricity bills this year.

This week, it was announced that the government will extend the Warm Homes Discount scheme to millions more households across the country.

The scheme sees a £150 payment issued to eligible households automatically, with the money then deducted from gas or electricity bills and is being sent to customers of every energy firm including British Gas, EDF, EON, OVO Energy and Octopus Energy.

The government says 2.7 million more households will receive the cash towards their bills this year, taking the total to 6 million, including 900,000 families with children.

The government said in its announcement: “This major expansion of support for working families is the latest in a raft of cost of living support [payments] made possible because the government has stabilised the economy, fixed the foundations and repaired the public finances – deliberate choices which are helping provide security and more money in the pockets of working families through the Plan for Change.”

Reacting to the news, Chris O’Shea, CEO of British Gas’ parent company Centrica, said: “Today’s announcement will bring real warmth when it matters most. Expanding the Warm Home Discount means millions more families will see £150 off their energy bills this winter — and that’s welcome news.

“I’m delighted that the Secretary of State has delivered this benefit for the millions of families who need help most. At Centrica, we’re proud to be doing our part too, helping customers through both the British Gas Energy Trust and the voluntary £140 million customer support package for British Gas customers.”

Any household eligible for the money, such as those on means-tested benefits, will get the amount taken off their bill automatically, and do not need to do anything in order to benefit.

The government added: “We have confirmed that following consultation, the Warm Home Discount scheme will be expanded to remove the high-cost-to-heat threshold in the current Warm Home Discount (England & Wales) Regulations 2022 (for winter 2025/2026) and increasing the level of spend available in Scotland for suppliers to allocate through the Broader Group.

“The change will mean that all households where the means-tested benefit recipient (or their partner or legal appointee) is named on the energy bill will now be eligible to receive the £150 electricity bill rebate.”