Energy-efficiency grants, advice, and services
Advice
There are several organisations that can provide advice, information, and support to help you to reduce your fuel bills.
Money Saving Expert
An excellent guide to your energy consumer rights and how to get help if you’re struggling with your energy costs. This includes how to get extra support if you’re in a vulnerable situation, for example if you (or anyone else in your household) has reached state pension age, has a long-term physical or mental health condition, or if you have children up to 5 years’ old.
There’s also important information and advice for prepayment meter customers including rules your energy supplier has to follow to support you and what to do if it isn’t safe and practical for your household to have prepayment meters.
Get help if you're struggling with your energy bills on the Money Saving Expert website
Lambeth Larder
Lambeth Larder provides a comprehensive listing of all the help and support available to Lambeth residents including energy support.
Visit the Lambeth Larder Directory
Government Energy Efficient Home Campaign
Government advice on energy savings in your home from grants and energy savings tips to new advice to retrofit your home.
- Get retrofit advice on the GOV.UK website
- Phone 0800 098 7950 (for tailored energy advice via their new retrofit service)
- See the GOV.UK Help for Households campaign
GLA Energy Advice London
Free advice on saving energy and water, reducing energy bills, accessing financial support, installing renewables and more. All support is impartial and delivered by in-house experts at Energy Saving Trust.
- Visit the GLA Energy Advice London website
- Phone 0808 196 8260
Citizens Advice consumer service
The service provides free, confidential, and impartial advice on consumer issues and rights, including energy and the best energy deals. They can also help you make an effective complaint to your energy company.
Repowering London
Repowering London build social energy around community-owned renewable energy as well as offering workshops to frontline workers and community groups on energy saving tips and measures, consumer rights and protections, and income maximisation.
They also support local residents with lived experience of energy poverty to become advocates and agents of social change through training, participatory research and volunteering opportunities.
- Email info@repowering.org.uk
- Visit the Repowering London website
South London Energy Efficiency Partnership
Lambeth Council is a member of the South London Energy Efficiency Partnership (SLEEP). SLEEP:
- offers energy efficiency advice
- installs energy saving devices
- supports home improvement grant applications
- connects you to other sources of help
SLEEP can offer free help to any Lambeth resident who is:
- over 65
- on a low income
- has a long-term health conditions or disability.
Visit South London Healthy Homes on The Charlton Athletic FC website
Grants
Pension Credit
If you are of state pension age and on a low income, Pension Credit could provide you with an average extra income boost of £3,300 per year. You will also qualify for a host of other benefits and discounts such as housing benefit, maximum council tax reduction, £900 support payments towards your energy costs, The Warm Home Discount – a £150 rebate from your electricity costs – free dental and eye care, and a free TV licence, if you’re over 75.
- Visit other benefits you can qualify for if you get Pension Credit on the Money Saving Expert website
- Phone the Pension Credit Claim Line on 0800 99 1234
Energy trusts and funds
Most bigger energy companies have trusts or funds that could help you if you are having problems playing your energy bills. Trusts have different criteria, but generally they could help clear energy debts. Some may also provide grants to buy essential white goods, cookers, and boiler replacements.
Money Saving Expert - Energy Hardship Funds
Money Saving Expert has compiled a list of energy suppliers offering hardship grants for people experiencing energy debt and other forms of hardship.
You’ll need help from an organisation offering specialist debt advice and support to make an application to reduce or clear energy debt. A debt advisor will help you complete your application and also help you to manage any other debts you might have.
- Contact Debt Free London
- Phone 0800 808 5700 (free advice line, from 8am to 7pm, 7 days per week)
Boiler Upgrade Scheme
Provides grants to property owners to install low carbon heating systems such as heat pumps.
Apply for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme on the GOV.UK website
Energy Company Obligation (ECO)
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO) is a government energy efficiency scheme in Great Britain to make homes warmer, more affordable to heat and to help reduce carbon emissions. Eligible customers will be able to access a range of energy improvements that will help them improve their home energy efficiency.
You could be eligible for ECO if you are on a low income or have a health condition that makes you particularly vulnerable to the cold. To find out more, register your interest, or check your eligibility please contact Repowering London by:
- by email at futurefithomes@repowering.org.uk
- phone on 020 3674 7519
Contact your energy provider to apply and/or find out if you are eligible. Most energy providers will have a section on their website outlining the ECO4 application process. However, you can contact any obligated energy supplier to find out how they may be able to help you benefit from the ECO scheme, even if they are not your energy provider.
Great British Insulation Scheme
You may be able to get free or cheaper insulation to reduce your home’s energy bills.
The Great British Insulation Scheme is a new government energy efficiency scheme designed to deliver insulation improvements to the least energy-efficient homes in Great Britain.
Homeowners and tenants renting from a private landlord or housing association living in homes with an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D-G, and within Council Tax bands A-D may be eligible for support. Tenants will need their landlord’s permission before any insulation can be installed.
The scheme will work with energy companies to deliver measures that result in warmer homes and reduced energy usage. It is intended to run from around April 2023 until March 2026.