The British Gas Energy Trust reopened its Energy Support Fund for applications on 4 November 2024, offering grants of up to £2,000 to clear outstanding energy debt1. The Trust describes itself as an independent charitable organisation funded solely by British Gas1. The fund sits alongside the Individuals and Families Fund, which is already open and assists both British Gas and non-British Gas customers1.
The Energy Support Fund is open to British Gas customers with credit and pre-payment meter accounts1. Applicants must be a British Gas customer living in England, Scotland or Wales; have energy debt between £50 and £2,000 on a pre-payment meter or £250 and £2,000 on a credit account; be experiencing or at risk of fuel poverty; have received assistance from a money advice agency in the last six months; and have not received a grant from the Trust in the past 12 months1. The separate Individuals and Families Fund covers energy debt up to £1,700 on a credit or pre-payment meter account, requires applicants to live in England, Scotland or Wales, to be seeking assistance with debt related to their primary residence, and to have had money advice agency assistance in the last six months1. Applicants whose suppliers run their own support funds may not qualify for the Individuals and Families Fund1.
| Fund | Maximum debt covered | Who can apply |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Support Fund | £2,000 (pre-payment debt from £50; credit account debt from £250) | British Gas customers in England, Scotland or Wales |
| Individuals and Families Fund | £1,700 | British Gas and non-British Gas customers in England, Scotland or Wales |
Over the past year the Trust has granted over £16 million in energy debt relief and an additional £2 million in emergency fuel vouchers1. It funds over 41 charities across Britain, including Citizens Advice offices, to deliver budget planning, benefits guidance and energy efficiency advice, and provides fuel vouchers and essential appliances through its community support programme1.
Jessica Taplin, chief executive of the British Gas Energy Trust, said:
"This winter is likely to be as challenging as the last, and the British Gas Energy Trust are committed to helping people get back on top of their energy bills before the really cold weather arrives. The reopening of the Energy Support Fund offers eligible households an opportunity to clear up to £2,000 of energy debt, helping ensure that people can keep their homes warm and healthy this winter."
A survey of 2,000 adults commissioned by British Gas found 39 per cent struggle to manage their bills, while 45 per cent have not sought help1. Reasons given were a belief they would not qualify (34 per cent), stigma or embarrassment (28 per cent) and lack of information (26 per cent)2. More than four in ten, 42 per cent, said they were worried about managing their finances this winter1. The Trust has partnered with the Post Office and eight community-based charities on free drop-in events at post offices in London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Leeds, Newport and Stockport this winter, offering budget planning, energy debt advice, help accessing debt write-off grants and energy efficiency measures2.
Why it matters for households
Energy debt is a drag on a household's energy independence: money owed to a supplier narrows the options for switching, for taking on a new tariff, or for investing in efficiency measures that would cut consumption. A grant that clears debt removes that obstacle without adding to repayments. The figures show the scale of the gap between need and take-up: the Trust reports that 45 per cent of those struggling have never asked for help, and that a third of non-applicants assume they would not qualify2. The eligibility rules are specific, and the two funds differ in who can apply and how much debt they cover, so the distinction matters for households weighing up whether to apply. The Trust's wider crisis and hardship funds for energy work, including fuel vouchers and appliance provision, runs alongside the debt grants1. For households in Northern Ireland, the picture differs: the Energy Support Fund covers England, Scotland and Wales only1, and energy bills in Northern Ireland are handled through a separate market.
What happens next
The Energy Support Fund is open for applications from 4 November 20241. The Individuals and Families Fund is already open1. The Trust has not reported a closing date for either fund. The Post Office drop-in events are running through the winter at the locations listed2.
Sources2 cited
- British Gas Energy Trust Winter Energy Support Fund Opens for Applications, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk
- Half of consumers who struggle with their energy bills have never asked for help. - British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk