British Gas giving thousands of customers £250

Isobel Lawrance 19th Jan 2023 No Comments

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Are you a British Gas customer? Do you pay your energy bills through a prepayment meter? If you answered yes to both of those questions, you could be eligible for up to £250 in support from British Gas.

This is a discretionary payment of credit up to £250, meaning British Gas will decide who gets the help. This will be provided to those struggling with their energy costs. Similarly, not everyone on prepayment meters will be eligible to receive the credit.

British Gas has said that eligible customers will see the credit added to their prepayment meter over the course of the next month. You do not need to contact the company to apply. If you are eligible, you will automatically be identified and provided with the credit.

This is part of a new £10 million support package from British Gas, which aim to help the most vulnerable customers on prepayment meters. Other support from the company includes vulnerability checks for customers who may need them.

British Gas also stated that no customers will be moved onto prepayment meters this cold season, unless they specifically request it. However, those on prepayment meters already may request smart prepayment meters if they are struggling with rising costs.

Chris O’Shea, chief executive of Centrica, parent company of British Gas said:

“We know that some prepayment customers are self-disconnecting and not coming forward for help, so we have reviewed our policies to do more to target support at this group.

“As a responsible business we are doing all we can to support our customers during this crisis – our work with the British Gas Energy Trust provides grants and money advice services.”

Just last week, Citizens Advice reported over three million Brits ran out of credit on prep-payment meters last year. This was the result of not being able to afford to top it up. Plus, they found that at least once a month, 2 million more people were being disconnected for the same reason.

Shockingly, 19% those who had their electricity cut off spent at least 24 hours without gas or electricity.

Cost of living payments

We previously wrote an article which rounds up all the cost-of-living payments. This includes eligibility and when they will be paid. You can read more here.