Tackling the symptoms and the cause: E.ON Next launches package of financial support and home improvements to lower energy bills for some of its most vulnerable customers

E.ON Next is launching a package of support for some of its most vulnerable customers by making their homes more energy efficient and cheaper to run, helping to sustainably lower customers’ bills and their risk of debt.

Through the ground-breaking scheme, E.ON Next will bring together direct financial support to ease debts in the short term while also providing free energy efficiency measures, sustainable solutions such as solar panels and batteries, plus a brand-new time-of-use tariff to help customers sustainably lower their energy use and bills into the future.

The support offered in this trial will help future-proof vulnerable customers’ homes with specific support tailored for each household depending on their needs and circumstances.

Support and measures include:

• Direct financial assistance by writing off energy debt, giving customers a fresh start and replacing inefficient and costly to run white goods such as fridges and washing machines through the E.ON Next Energy Fund
• Home insulation and sustainable energy solutions, such as solar panels and heat pumps, to reduce energy bills for years to come
• A free battery which can be charged using cheaper electricity at off peak times and stored for use at peak times when power is more expensive, and a time-of-use tariff which makes the most of this technology by offering customers the best value depending on when they use electricity
• Signposting the impartial debt advice and support available through National Debtline

Chris Norbury, CEO of E.ON UK, said: “We can have a real impact in helping those people struggling to make ends meet, not only today, but for the longer term as well. Our new pilot in Coventry is helping to design a blueprint for the energy system of the future, by replacing energy hungry white goods, writing off debt for customers so they can better manage their bills going forward and installing future home technology, such as solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps, to put them in charge of their energy needs.

“The aim is to tackle the root cause of many people’s high energy bills today – namely high energy use due to our nation’s poorly insulated homes – and providing them with a more comfortable, sustainable and affordable home for the future.

“We’ve already helped hundreds of thousands of our most vulnerable customers, providing £80 million of support last winter as well as through longer term schemes like our E.ON Next Energy Fund, and we continue to call for an industry-wide social tariff to provide direct financial support to vulnerable people across the country, no matter who their energy supplier is.

“Our key message to anyone struggling with their energy bills is to talk to your energy supplier, explain your circumstances, and see how we can help you.”

Homeowners who are best suited to the trial have been pre-selected by E.ON Next based on their circumstances and needs and will be contacted directly.

Initially the trial will involve customers in Coventry who are living in poorly insulated and inefficient homes and struggling with energy debt. E.ON has called Coventry home for over three decades and is the Strategic Energy Partner to Coventry City Council, transforming the city’s approach to carbon reduction, helping people save money and boosting the local economy. If successful, E.ON Next aims to roll the trial out more widely to other areas.

Other support available from E.ON Next

E.ON Next has a range of support available to help its customers, including:

• Our 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.
• The Warm Home Discount scheme – a one off payment of £150 to be used as a credit on electricity bills for customers who are potentially struggling to pay their energy bills during the cold winter months.
• 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 our E.ON Next Pledge tariff which tracks the price cap and remains £50 below the cap at average annual consumption.
• Our Priority Services Register where we can help vulnerable customers who may need extra help managing their energy account.
• Charity partnerships where we fund support via specialist charities who provide additional advice for customers experiencing hardship. 

To find out more about E.ON Next, visit eonnext.com