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   The £120 rebate off electricity bills offered to people on certain benefits by the energy companies
There have been a number of queries from residents over the last few days regarding the cut off dates for applying to the Warm Home Discount this winter. For those of you unfamiliar with this, it is the £120 rebate off electricity bills offered to people on certain benefits by the energy companies. This is paid to customers during the winter. This winter has been the first year the payment has been available and it is set to carry on for the next three winters, increasing each year. Some of the energy suppliers have now brought in cut off dates for Broader Group customers applying this year thought these haven’t been publicised at all. This means that residents, depending on their supplier, may no longer be able to get the rebate this winter. When trying to apply, if the cut off date has passed they will either be advised to call back later in the year or their details will be held ready for next year’s rebate. I have listed below the updates I have obtained from each of the main energy suppliers: Scottish & Southern Energy – Cut off for Broader Group is 1st March 2012. People calling after that date will be asked to call back then as of 1st April 2012 they will begin taking details for next year’s rebate which will be awarded next winter (2012/13). EDF Energy – They do not have a cut off date for their Broader Group customers at present but this is likely to be at some point in March as the £120 rebate payments for this winter have to be made by the 31st March. EON – They do not have a cut off date for their Broader Group customers at present but this is likely to be at some point in March as the £120 rebate payments for this winter have to be made by the 31st March. British Gas – Cut off for Broader Group customers has already passed on 31st January 2012. This is contrary to their original statement that their scheme was not on a first come first served basis and this has not been advertised, even on their Warm Home Discount webpage. If a customer rings up their details will be taken for next year’s rebate which will be awarded next winter (2012/13). Npower – They do not have a cut off date for their Broader Group customers at present but this is likely to be at some point in March as the £120 rebate payments for this winter have to be made by the 31st March. Scottish Power – Cut off for Broader Group customers has already passed on 11th January 2012. This is due to their budget for this being fully allocated. As with British Gas this has not been advertised but they have put a note on their webpage They are currently advising customers who contact them to call back later in the year. Anticipate that details will be taken for next year’s rebate around April/May. Source: Caroline Allport Development Worker (Older People) Community Health & Social Care Salford City Council Crompton House 100 Chorley Rd Swinton Salford M27 6BP Tel 0161 793 2209 Mob 07841685639 e mail: caroline.allport@salford.gov.uk Due to problems with spam only SalfordOnline members can now leave comments. Becoming a member of SalfordOnline only takes a minute, just hit the red Join Us button at the top right hand side of the page to create your Personal account. Got a news story? Need help with publicity for an event in Salford? Send it to newsdesk@salfordonline.com or call the SalfordOnline newsdesk on 0161 789 5377. |
