British Gas, EDF, EON and Octopus offer up to £1,700 boost | Personal Finance | Finance

Energy firms including British Gas, Octopus Energy, E.ON, EDF and OVO are offering cash boosts, freebies and discounts to customers this summer. Household energy bills rose again in July for those not currently on a fix, adding another 13% to the average cost of electricity and gas for a typical household.

That’s one of the reasons British Gas Energy Trust offers its Individual And Families Fund, which offers up to £1,700 to households, including state pension households, to claim if they are struggling with energy debts. The firm’s Fund is open to applications from British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter accounts.

To get up to £1,700 from British Gas, you must live in England, Scotland or Wales, and not have received a grant from the Trust in the past 12 months.

You must be seeking a grant in order to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel account in your name, or be a member of the household, and the account must be for your main residence.

You must have a minimum of £50 debt on a pre-payment meter or £250 as a credit account customer, and a maximum of £1,700 debt for your gas or electricity.

At the same time, EDF is offering Heatwave Relief Packs to up to 10,000 eligible customers through a scheme designed to help vulnerable households keep their houses cool.

The packages, worth up to £100, can include fans, blackout curtains and reusuable water bottles, combined with a £20 energy bill discount to cover the cost of running fans.

E.ON Next customers can apply for help through its E.On Next Energy Fund if they are struggling to pay for their bills, while Octopus Energy runs its own scheme which is available all year round.

Octopus’ Octo Assist can also give cusomers a free electric blanket in winter, worth an average £300 saving.