Press Release

21 April 2023

Still time to claim support for energy and fuel bills

Fareham Borough Council is reminding residents that there is still time to apply for two government schemes offering support with energy and fuel bills.

The ‘Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding’ (EBSS AF) is a one-off grant of £400 aimed at residents without a direct relationship with a domestic energy supplier. The scheme is open to all eligible households until 31 May 2023.

Eligible residents include:

care home residents and others in care facilities/sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
residents of park homes, houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address
tenants in private and social rented homes who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
homes supplied via private wires/heat network
farmers living in domestic farmhouses
off-grid households
Most households who do have a direct relationship with a domestic energy supplier have already been benefitting from subsidised energy bills through the government's energy bills support scheme, organised by their energy supplier.

Eligible residents simply need to fill out a short online form via the GOV.UK website:

www.gov.uk/apply-energy-bill-support-if-not-automatic

Once Fareham residents have applied to receive this funding and their applications have been processed and verified, details will be shared with Fareham Borough Council, who will make the payment directly into their bank accounts.

The government is also providing a further £200 Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) to help those households who use alternative fuels such as biomass or heating oil to meet energy costs. Most households eligible for the AFP support will receive the payment automatically via their electricity supplier in February, with no need to take any action.

Those households who will need to apply for the AFP, for example because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier, can do so using the same link as above until 31 May 2023.

If residents do not have online access, they can call 0808 1753287 where a representative will guide them through the application process.

ENDS