I tried out a little-known way to get free energy bill advice, gadgets and cash
THE local Post Office may seem like an unlikely place to go to for advice on how to cut your energy bills.
But you may be able to slash your energy bill, apply for missing benefits and post a parcel in just one visit.
That’s because the Post Office has partnered with the British Gas Energy Trust to offer energy advice sessions in its branches.
Between October and March each year a team of money and energy advisers travel around the country to give out their valuable tips.
So far there have been around 178 in-person sessions since the companies began working together in May 2022.
In these sessions advisers give people step-by-step money and bill advice, check their benefit entitlement and hand out energy-saving gadgets.
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They also help customers apply for grants worth up to £2,000 through the British Gas Energy Trust.
You do not need to be a British Gas customer to speak to the advisers or apply for the cash.
I visited a session at the Post Office in Highcross shopping centre, Leicester, to see how much I could save.
As I arrive the team of five energy experts are busy setting up hundreds of booklets and tote bags.
It’s their second day in Leicester and scores of people are already waiting outside to speak to the team.
A young woman in her early twenties stops to chat to the team about her energy bills and looks pleased when she is handed a Post Office branded tote bag.
Inside is a shower timer, radiator key, keyring and several booklets on how to apply for help from the trust and reduce your monthly bill.
Next is an 82-year-old woman who builds a rapport with the team as they discuss her smart meter.
She is pleased the device has helped her to keep track of her bills, which are around £300 a month for both gas and electricity.
Andrew Watson, a senior team leader in the Energy Debt department, tells me customers really value the personalised advice.
When are the next advice sessions?
The British Gas Energy Trust holds dozens of advice sessions each year with the Post Office in areas across the UK.
The sessions usually run from October to March.
The money and energy advisors will be hosting pop-up events at the following locations in the coming months:
Leeds Markets
- 6-16 New York Street
- LS2 7DZ
- February 25, 26
- March 4, 5
- 11am-2pm
Stockport Great Underbank
- 34 Great Underbank
- SK1 1PD
- March 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
- 11am-2pm
“We speak to numerous customers all day long,” he said. “It's all about understanding their circumstances and then hopefully being able to offer the right support.”
The advice can certainly have a huge impact.
The team tell me that they were able to help a pensioner in her 70s who was living in fuel poverty.
The Stockport-resident, who lived alone in social housing, was not using the heating as she was terrified that she would receive a huge bill she could not pay back.
She was immediately offered an electric blanket and told how much it would cost to run per hour.
The team also advised her to install other energy-saving measures including reflective radiator foil, which could help to cut her bills.
Advisors reassured her that if her bills became unaffordable and she fell into arrears then she could apply for a British Gas Energy Trust grant.
As she was on a low income and was receiving Pension Credit the team referred her to the local branch of Citizens Advice, which got in touch with her to complete a benefit check.
Meanwhile, an elderly gentleman was “delighted” after a team in Edinburgh helped him to apply for a vital benefit.
The man visited the pop-up three times to bring all the information he needed to apply for Attendance Allowance.
He sent off his information and is waiting for confirmation he will receive the payment, which is likely to be worth at least £72.65 a week.
Jessica Taplin, British Gas Energy Trust CEO, said: “One of the most important steps for anyone struggling with their energy bills is to reach out to their energy supplier.
“But we know that 45% of people have never sought help when struggling to manage energy bills.
“We’d encourage anyone needing support to come along and find out more at their local pop-up – which are running until the end of March 2025.”
I ask Andrew about my energy bills, which have more than doubled to £200 since the energy crisis.
He provides me with a helpful leaflet that includes 20 energy-saving tips.
It tells me to draught-proof my home, install insulation and take shorter showers.
These measures could slash my bill by £160 a year, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Meanwhile, if I insulate my walls I could save an extra £240 a year.
How to apply for an energy grant
If you are struggling with energy debt it can be hard to know where to turn.
You should contact your local Money Advice Agency for help before you apply for a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust.
What energy bill help is available?
There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you're struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
If you ask for advice then it will increase the chances that your application for a grant is successful.
The Individual and Families Fund
The fund is available to British Gas and non-British Gas customers who have a credit or pre-payment meter account.
To be eligible you must:
- Be a prepayment meter customer with between £50 and £1,700 of energy debt
- Be a credit customer with between £250 and £1,700 of energy debt
- Live in England, Scotland or Wales
- Have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust within the past two years
- Be applying for a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account
- The account must be in your name and relate to your main residence
- Not have closed your account (for example if you have moved home)
- Be in or facing fuel poverty
- Have received help from a money advice agency or used a trusted partner’s self help benefit calculator tool within the past six months
If your application is successful then your energy account will be credited with the grant.
British Gas Energy Trust does not give out cash payments.
The purpose of the money is to support people who cannot access energy debt help from their own provider.
Ovo, Boost, Eon, Eon Next, EDF, Scottish Power, Octopus Energy, Shell Energy, SSE and Utilita have their own schemes.
If you are a customer of one of these providers then you should contact them directly for help first.
British Gas Energy Support Fund
This fund is open to applications from British Gas customers with credit or pre-payment meter accounts.
To be eligible you must:
- Be a British Gas credit or pre-payment meter customer living in England, Scotland or Wales
- Have not received a grant from the British Gas Energy Trust in the past year
- Be applying for a grant to clear an outstanding debt on a current or open gas, electricity or dual fuel energy account in your name or be a member of that household
- The energy account must be connected to your main residence
- Pre-payment meter customers must have a minimum debt of £50
- Credit account customers must have a debt of at least £250
- You must not have more than £2,000 of gas and/or electricity debt
- You need to be in or facing fuel poverty
- You must have received help from a money advice agency or have used a self help benefit calculator tool in the past six months
You can apply for both funds online through the British Gas Energy Trust website.
Applications take up to four weeks to be assessed and if you are successful you will be notified through the online portal, text or email.
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It will then take two weeks for the payment to your energy provider to show on your energy account.
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