Warm Home Discount to help 350,000 customers

15 Jan 2014

Around 350,000 customers will benefit from this year's Warm Home Discount (WHD) scheme which enables pensioners and vulnerable customers to receive financial help with their winter fuel bills.

SSE will spend £50 million this year helping vulnerable customers; this includes funding assistance for over 80,000 in the WHD scheme's 'broader group' category against an obligation target of 58,000. 

SSE has achieved this through ongoing promotion by front line advisors and by working with external partners such as Citizens Advice Bureau, National Energy Action and Energy Action Scotland to help identify those most in need of help.

Under this scheme, two groups of customers - a 'core' group of pensioners and a 'broader group' of other vulnerable customers - are given £135 to help with the cost of energy over the winter.  Over 240,000 of our customers have received Core Group rebates. 

Under the rules of the scheme we are required to verify eligibility of a percentage of customers in advance of payment and all payments must be allocated to accounts prior to 31 March 2014.  In order to progress these activities, SSE will close the 2013/14 Broader Group to new applicants on Thursday 16th January.

The Warm Home Discount will re-open for applications in May.  In the meantime,   SSE will continue to help vulnerable customers through a number of initiatives including its Priority Assistance Fund which helps with debt relief; benefit entitlement checks; tailored payment plans and energy efficiency advice and measures.

Annette Sloan, Priority Services External Partnerships Co-ordinator at SSE said: "Delivering this support includes the challenging task of identifying vulnerable customers in need of our help. We are therefore extremely proud to have delivered on these targets and exceeded our obligation in terms of identifying customers for our Broader Group.  This has been done through the hard work of our highly trained advisors and partnerships with local authorities and charities.

 "SSE is committed to supporting vulnerable customers and has a number of ways it can help those having difficulty paying their bills. Our message is always to get in touch with us and we will find ways to help. "

Customers who are worried about their bills or having difficulty with payments should call 08000 727 222.

-ends-

Notes to editors

*About the Warm Homes DiscountThe WHD scheme, designed by the Government and delivered by all major energy suppliers, has four distinct parts, each with bespoke targets:

  • A "core group" of customers, designated by Government, who are provided with rebates of £135 through data sharing with the Department of Work and Pensions
  • A "broader group", which SSE and other suppliers have some discretion with which to define eligibility criteria, are also provided with a £135 rebate
  • A group of customers previously helped through voluntary assistance programmes (defined as the "Legacy Group")
  • Support through "industry initiatives" such as benefit entitlement checks, hardship funds, energy efficiency measures and partnerships with external organisations which assist those in or at risk of fuel poverty.

Continuous, year-round support for vulnerable customersWhile significant, the Warm Homes Discount rebates are not the only way in which SSE helps vulnerable customers. Customers having difficulty paying their bills should contact us to see if they could benefit from the other forms of assistance we offer, including:

  • Insulation and boiler repair and replacement -SSE expects to fund and manage around 100,000 energy efficiency installations in homes this financial year under the Energy Company Obligation scheme (ECO). It also provides free energy efficiency advice in order to help reduce costs and save energy. 
  • Tailor-made payment plans - SSE has helped over 250,000 customers this year  through payment plans designed to suit their needs 
  • SSE's Priority Assistance Fund - providing £3.5 million of additional support to vulnerable customers on low income; SSE is continually working to build on  working relationships with agencies in the community in order to identify and help more vulnerable customers in this way
  • Collaboration with other agencies - SSE continues to build on partnerships with external organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureau, National Energy Action, Energy Action Scotland and others to fund initiatives such as Energy Best Deal and Big Energy Saving Week. These help provide valuable  advice and assistance to energy consumers
  • No Winter Disconnections - for the winter period (1st December to end of February) SSE will not disconnect the gas or electricity supply of any customer, unless there are issues of safety or criminality involved.
distributed by