E.ON Next announces £92 million support package to help its most vulnerable customers

E.ON Next has announced £92 million of support to help its vulnerable customers, including up to £60 million through a new Winter Support Scheme to provide eligible financially vulnerable customers with targeted support. Through the Winter Support Scheme, E.ON Next will give eligible customers a credit on their accounts to help with heating costs, as well as writing off debt for some customers who are struggling to afford their winter energy bills.

More than 60,000 financially vulnerable E.ON Next customers have been identified as eligible for support through the Winter Support Scheme. Customers who qualify are being contacted directly and may initially be provided with £250 towards their winter energy bills, with further support discussed with customers on a case-by-case basis.

The aim of the scheme is not only to help customers to afford their energy bills this winter, but to give people a fresh start by cancelling any debt and setting them on a path to afford their energy bills into the future. The targeted support package also includes agreeing future payment plans and installing smart meters to give customers better clarity and control over their energy needs.

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, said: “Our package of support is helping our most in-need customers with their energy bills. This £92 million package is dedicated to offering direct assistance, such as through our targeted Winter Support Scheme, to help get people out of debt – and to keep them out of debt – by working with them to understand their needs and provide ways of helping them now and into the future.

“While we work with the Government, regulator and consumer groups to further build out our innovative, lasting solutions to tackle energy affordability, such as our pilot scheme in Coventry, we continue to urge anyone who is struggling with their energy bills to check what support is available for them.”

Through its pioneering pilot scheme in Coventry, E.ON Next is trialling an innovative approach which combines short-term relief for vulnerable customers through direct financial support and debt write-off with long-term solutions that directly address the root causes of energy unaffordability. Customers are being offered insulation, efficient white goods, solar panels and heat pumps – plus a battery and time-of-use tariff – to reduce their energy use and bills for years to come.

Extra support through the Warm Home Discount

In addition to the new package of support for vulnerable customers this winter, the Warm Home Discount scheme for 2024/25 is now under way, meaning eligible E.ON Next customers are now receiving £150 per household to support them with their energy bills this winter.

E.ON is also backing calls by Citizens Advice for an enhanced industry-wide Warm Home Discount scheme to help even more customers this winter and is prepared to co-fund enhancements with generators, network operators, other suppliers, and the Government.

Other support available from E.ON Next

Alongside the £92 million of support allocated through schemes such as the targeted Winter Support Scheme, E.ON Next has a range of additional support available to help its vulnerable customers.

That support forms part of E.ON Next’s wider commitment to helping its customers; this also includes obligation schemes designed to improve the energy efficiency of customers’ homes, with E.ON Next delivering a package of support exceeding £440 million this year.

Other support available for customers who need help with their energy bills includes:

• The E.ON Next Energy Fund which provides direct financial support, replacement of inefficient white goods and debt write-off for eligible customers struggling to pay their bills.
• Free insulation for eligible people as part of the Great British Insulation Scheme and other projects including the Energy Company Obligation and the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme.
• Competitive tariffs such as one- and two-year fixed tariffs and the E.ON Next Pledge tariff which tracks the price cap and remains £50 below the cap at average annual consumption.
• The Priority Services Register where E.ON Next can help vulnerable customers who may need extra help managing their energy account.
• Charity partnerships where E.ON Next funds support via specialist charities that provide additional advice for customers experiencing hardship. 

To find out more about E.ON Next’s Winter Support Scheme, visit eonnext.com/blog/winter-support-scheme