Major energy suppliers are offering free electric blankets and heated throws to vulnerable customers this winter, providing a lifeline against soaring heating costs.
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The schemes focus on supporting the most vulnerable, including elderly residents, those with medical needs, and people living alone.
Octopus Energy is leading the initiative by pledging 20,000 electric blankets, while OVO Energy has launched a £50million support package that includes free electric throws.
The move comes as analysis shows electric blankets are approximately 60 times cheaper to run than central heating, offering significant savings for households during the cold months.
EDF Energy has also joined the effort, providing energy-saving gadgets and appliances to eligible customers struggling with costs.
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The free energy saving products could help customers to cut costs and keep warmPAOctopus Energy's electric blanket scheme, running since , has helped customers save around £300 annually on heating bills.
Mario Lupori, director at Octopus Energy Group said: "We know many people are worried about the costs of heating their homes over winter. An electric blanket means you heat the human, not the home staying warm for as little as 3p an hour."
The blankets, manufactured by Dreamland and normally retailing at £69.99, are being prioritised for medically vulnerable customers, the elderly, and those living alone.
To apply, customers must create a Paylink budget for eligibility assessment. Applications are typically reviewed within one week, with households limited to one blanket each.
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OVO Energy's £50million Extra Support Package, launched on October 1, offers free electric throws and mattress toppers to eligible customers.
The scheme is available to both OVO and Boost customers, with applications taking approximately five minutes to complete. Households must provide their monthly disposable income after tax and essential bills during the application process.
The package includes additional support measures such as payment holidays for those in debt on prepayment meters and emergency credit top-ups of £15.
Pensioners may also receive extra assistance, with eligibility criteria extending beyond Warm Home Discount requirements.
Applications can be submitted through OVO's online portal at ovoenergy.com/extra-support.
EDF Energy is offering comprehensive support through its Customer Support Fund, which includes free energy-saving gadgets such as air fryers, kettles and slow cookers.
The company will also replace broken or inefficient appliances with energy-efficient alternatives for eligible customers including cookers, fridges and washing machines
Customers can receive help with electricity or gas bill debts, and if heating the home sufficiently during the colder months is challenging, they offer bundles of smaller products such as hot water bottles and heated throws. However, independent debt advice is required before applying for funding support.
EDF's team identifies and refers eligible customers for extra assistance, with applications managed through their website at edfenergy.com/energywise.
The scheme particularly focuses on vulnerable customers who are struggling with energy debt.
Running an electric blanket costs just 2.5p per hour during winter , based on Ofgem's electricity rate of 24.5p per kWh.
Eight hours of overnight use amounts to approximately 20p, with the same cost applying to heated throws during daytime use. In comparison, with gas prices at 6.24p per kWh, an average 24kWh boiler costs around £1.50 per hour to operate.
These energy-saving devices particularly valuable for households looking to manage their winter heating expenses efficiently.
THOUSANDS of hard-up households can get their hands on free energy-saving gadgets ahead of Christmas.
Appliances like air fryers and heated blankets are being distributed by several energy suppliers to assist those struggling to pay their energy bills.
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Major energy suppliers have launched multi-million support packages this winter
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For instance, Octopus Energy is providing customers with free electric blankets through its £30million Octopus Assist fund.
And Ovo Energy is offering money-saving gadgets to households as part of its £50 million customer support package.
From air fryers to electric blankets and mattress toppers, here is everything you might be eligible for from each supplier...
EDF is pumping £29million into a range of support for struggling households this winter.
Customers can get any debt wiped, as well as free energy-saving gadgets such as air fryers, kettles and slow cookers.
EDF said it will replace broken or poorly working appliances with energy-efficient ones.
But not everyone qualifies for help. EDF said its team will identify and refer eligible customers for extra support.
You can find out more and apply via edfenergy.com/energywise/how-edf-are-supporting-their-customers-through-uks-cost-living-crisis.
For more information, please visit Electric Blankets.
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Octopus Energy is offering 20,000 electric blankets in total to customers in need this winter.
Octopus said customers with an electric blanket have saved an average of £150 on their combined gas and electricity bills in previous winters.
The electric blankets are open to all customers, however Octopus said it is prioritising those in "particular circumstances".
This includes those who are medically vulnerable, the elderly, and people living alone.
Dreamland makes the blankets provided to customers, usually costing £69.99 new.
To apply for an electric blanket, visit octopusenergy/blog/octo-assist.
OVO Energy has launched a £50million package of support for struggling customers.
Applications for the fund opened on October 1, with households eligible for payment holidays and direct debit reductions.
But some may be eligible for free energy-saving gadgets, too, including electric throws and mattress toppers.
What you are entitled to depends on your circumstances, and you must be an OVO Energy customer.
Find out if you're eligible for help via ovoenergy.com/extra-support.
If you're not eligible for free energy-saving gadgets through Octopus, EDF or OVO Energys' funds, there is other support at hand.
You may be able to get free devices through your local authority's Household Support Fund.
Charities including, Citizens Advice and Groundwork are also offering support through The Cadent Foundation's a £2million Emergency Support Fund.
Each charity is using a slice of the funding to give out the gadgets, food vouchers and energy vouchers to help households struggling with fuel poverty.
Households can claim heating and cooking appliances which use little energy and cost less money to run - saving them crucial cash on their monthly bill.
The boost will be available until March, and each household can receive up to two vouchers as well as the appliances they need
To find out more, visit cadentgas.com/cadent-foundation#projects.
Thousands of households on benefits can also get help applying for free and cheap energy-saving gadgets through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO).
Support is offered on a case-by-case basis, but it can mean having a new boiler fitted or loft or cavity wall insulation put in, often for free.
Several energy firms also offer hardship grants to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria varies depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
E.ON, Octopus, and Scottish Power all have their own schemes where you can get money for the cost of bills, too.
It's worth speaking to your supplier to see what's available.
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic share her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
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