E.ON Next exceeds £60m commitment to support vulnerable customers this winter

E.ON Next has exceeded its commitment to provide £60 million of support to customers through its Winter Support Scheme. The scheme, which has now closed, has provided a further £13 million of support, taking the total to £73 million.

The scheme, which is part of a wider, £92 million package of support, involved identifying and contacting more than 60,000 financially vulnerable customers.  Support ranged from an initial credit payment of £250 to help towards energy bills, to giving customers 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 included agreeing future payment plans and installing smart meters to give customers better clarity and control over their energy needs.

The level of debt write-off allocated through this scheme was at an average of approximately £2,900 per customer.

Ramona Vlasiu, Chief Operating Officer at E.ON Next, said: “We’re committed to helping our most in-need customers with their energy bills, and the Winter Support Scheme has been an extremely important part of this. By exceeding our £60 million commitment, we hope that we’ve been able to ease the pressure in a meaningful way. But we also know that some customers will continue to struggle, which is why we continue to offer grants through the E.ON Next Energy Fund, access to financial advice and support for home improvements aimed at reducing energy use, and we continue to urge anyone needs help with their energy bills to check what support is available.”

E.ON Next will continue to offer support in a number of ways including:

• Through the E.ON Next Energy Fund. Existing customers who are struggling to clear accumulated debt on their account can apply for an award to clear their debt, allowing them to start afresh and pay only for what they use. The fund also provides a range of free-of-charge items to customers who would benefit from items such as heated throws, rechargeable foot warmers, air-fryers and insulation kits.
• Through the Government’s Warm House Discount. E.ON Next is helping eligible customers with a one-off top up of £150 electricity bill credit.
• Long-term interest free repayment plans can be arranged for existing eligible customers. These repayment plans help customers to repay their outstanding bills over a longer period, without interest accruing on the debt, and will be based on what customers can afford.

• E.ON Next has partnered with a number of organisations to provide free and personalised debt advice, budgeting advice and support services for customers.
• For prepayment customers who may be struggling to pay, we provide an interest-free top-up to their meter which can be repaid at a rate that is affordable for the customer.