- Charities, consumer groups and energy suppliers unite on Claim Your Energy Voucher Day to reach traditional prepayment meter customers yet to claim government support.
- Households urged to use their energy bills support vouchers by 30 June, if they haven't done so already.
- New figures show record number of prepayment meter customers claiming their support, with £130 million still available for the next month.
Electricity suppliers, charities and consumer groups are today joining forces with government for Claim Your Energy Voucher Day - a call to arms to make sure households with traditional prepayment meters avoid missing out on £400 worth of help with their bills.
With £130 million of government support left to claim, well recognised names backing the day include Which?, National Energy Action and Fuel Bank Foundation, as the sector comes together in a final push to get remaining households to use their energy bill vouchers worth up to £400.
Recent figures show the number of vouchers cashed in has reached an all-time high, with over 83% of vouchers now used. However, with a month left of the scheme, the government is renewing its efforts to see as many vouchers redeemed as possible.
Over the last week government adverts have been landing in hundreds of newspapers, bus stops, Post Offices, train station billboards and elsewhere across the country to let those on traditional prepayment meters know how to claim the support.
Prepayment meter users, who are often in low-income households, have so far claimed nearly £650 million under the government's Energy Bills Support Scheme. This means vital help is getting out to those that need it most, which direct debit customers received automatically over the winter - bringing the total delivered through the scheme to £11.5 billion.
Minister for Energy Consumers and Affordability Amanda Solloway said:
We've made huge strides in getting nearly £650 million from our Energy Bills Support Scheme out to prepayment meter customers, often in the homes that need it most.
Today we are redoubling our efforts to reach anyone who still hasn't claimed this help, and it's fantastic to see so many join our final push to spread the word.
Tell friends and family or anyone on a traditional prepayment meter to use their vouchers for up to £400 off bills before 30 June - there is still £130 million out there to claim.
Ministers are leading a rallying call for customers to head to a Post Office or PayPoint with their Energy Bills Support vouchers and ID before 30 June, so everyone can get the help available.
Charities and consumer groups have also voiced their support to help spread the word, as part of Claim Your Energy Voucher Day:
Emily Seymour, Which? Energy Editor, said:
It's positive that over 80 per cent of Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers for traditional prepayment meter customers - who are often on lower incomes - have now been redeemed.
However, there are still lots of households that will be missing out on much-needed financial support. We'd strongly encourage anyone who hasn't yet redeemed their vouchers to do so before 30 June, so they don't miss out on extra help unnecessarily.
It's also important to remember that any lost, missing or expired vouchers can be reissued, as long as they are redeemed by 30 June 2023. If you are on a traditional prepayment meter and haven't received your vouchers, are unsure of how to redeem them, or need a voucher to be reissued, you should
