Energy Bill Support Scheme (Alternative Funding) and Alternative Fuels Payment

The Government have recently announced that further funds are being made available to help some customers with their energy bills. Two new schemes have been launched: the Energy Bill Support Scheme (Alternative Funding) and the Alternative Fuels Payment.

The assistance is aimed at customers who have not benefited from the previous scheme where the energy bill was reduced by £400 or £66.67 per month for six months. 

In terms of the Energy Bill Support Scheme, the way you get energy support will be different if you do not have a domestic electricity meter and contract with an electricity supplier.

So for example if you live:

• in a park home
• in a mobile home
• in a care home
• on a houseboat
• on a farm or
• off the electricity grid

then you maybe eligible to receive the £400 Energy Support payment.

You can find further details on energy support and a link to the application on the GOV.UK website.

If you need help to apply

If you cannot apply online or need help with your application, please contact the helpline team.

Email: alternativefunding@ebss.beis.gov.uk

Telephone: 0808 175 3287 
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

If customers use other fuels for heating their home, then they maybe eligible to receive a £200 Alternative Fuel Payment.

Customers may be eligible for this payment if both the following are true:

• your household is not connected to the mains gas grid
• you use alternative fuels as your main form of heating

This is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier.

You're eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home uses:

• tank or bottled gas
• liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
• oil
• wood
• solid fuel

Most homes that are eligible for this payment will get it automatically as a credit on their electricity bills from February 2023.

If you think you should have got a payment but have not, please contact your electricity supplier.

You may not get the payment automatically if your home is either:

• in an area which is mainly connected to the gas grid
• not connected to either the gas or the electricity grid

For further details about the Alternative Fuel Payment and an application, please also visit  the Gov.uk website.   

If you need help to apply

If you cannot apply online, please call the helpline.

Telephone: 0808 175 3943
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Please do not contact the Council about the application. We are unable to process it on your behalf. 

What happens once I have completed the online application ?

Once you have completed the relevant application and the government have verified your eligibility, your information will be passed to the Council to check your address details. If we are unable to verify your details, then you maybe asked to provide further evidence before the relevant payment can be made.

The Council has now started to make these payments but whilst every effort will be made to make them to customers within the six-week period from the date of application, it may take longer, especailly if further information is required.

So far nearly 1,500 applications have been received and it is taking eight weeks for customers to receive their support payment.  

Fraudulent websites

We have been made aware of a couple of fake websites set up to imitate the gov.​uk EBSS and AFP application page, asking for bank or card details from members of the public. These links have been swiftly taken down. We would like to emphasise that the Government will never send links to potential applicants inviting them to apply. Applicants will always be directed to type "Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically" into the search bar on GOV.​UK or an internet search engine.

The closing date for applications is 31 May and payments have to be made by 30 June 2023.      

Last updated: 24 April 2023