Energy bills support scheme: who is eligible and when will it be paid?

theguardian.com:

Energy bills could hit £3,850 a year by Christmas – three times what households were paying at the start of 2022 – according to the latest estimates by experts. Now the government has revealed further details on its already announced energy bills support scheme, under which millions of households will get a £400 discount on their energy bills this winter.

The energy bills support scheme applies to consumers in England, Scotland and Wales. All households in Great Britain with a domestic electricity connection are eligible for the support.

The 1% of homes without a connection – including those who do not have a direct relationship with an energy supplier, such as park home residents – will receive equivalent financial help, with more details to be announced in the autumn.

The government said it is “urgently working” to make sure households in Northern Ireland get the equivalent of the support “as soon as possible”.

The £400 discount will be paid in six monthly instalments beginning in October this year. In October and November, households will see a £66 discount on their energy bills. This will rise to £67 a month from December through to March 2023.

It will be paid on a monthly basis, regardless of when consumers usually pay their bills.

The way households will receive the discounts depends on what kind of electricity meter they have, and how they pay their energy bills.

Direct debit customers will automatically get a deduction to the amount collected, or as a refund to their bank account after the bill is paid.

Standard credit customers, payment card customers and smart prepayment meter customers will see the discount automatically applied as a credit in the first week of each month.

Households with a traditional “non-smart”