Public in South Gloucestershire urged to make sure they have received £400 fuel discount

• Some 2 million Energy Bills Support Scheme vouchers have not yet been redeemed according to a fuel charity
• The scheme finished in March and people have until June 30 to redeem vouchers
• Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire is calling on people using traditional prepayment meters to make sure they are not losing out

Anyone who hasn’t received or redeemed their fuel vouchers under the Energy Bills Support Scheme worth £400 is being urged to act.

Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire wants to get the word out that people have until June 30 to redeem their vouchers.

The scheme – which finished in March – offered vital support with the cost of energy in the form of monthly vouchers and credit.

People using a traditional prepayment meter should have received six vouchers. These were worth £66 in October and November and £67 in December, January, February and March.

These would have arrived by text, email or post. Some people on traditional prepayment meters will have received an automatic credit when they top up.

But the Fuel Bank Foundation charity has warned some 2 million vouchers have not yet been redeemed.

Deadline for redeeming vouchers

People must use all vouchers by June 30. Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire wants anyone who has not received the vouchers to contact their supplier to get them reissued.

People are being urged to check they have received and redeemed all six vouchers.

Anyone in the region experiencing difficulties with getting the full £400 discount should contact Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire.

Emmanuelle Claverie is Lead Supervisor at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire and leads a team of advisers.

She said: “It’s important people claim the money because they are entitled to it.

“People who are on smart meters would have got it automatically and people on old prepayment meters should get the same as everyone else.

“If they haven’t redeemed the vouchers they have until the end of June – after that they will have lost them.

“If they haven’t received them at all, they should go back to their energy providers – they are the ones who can reissue them.

“And if they have a voucher which is out of date they can call their energy providers and ask them to reissue it.

“Any difficulties with energy providers, they can come to us at Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire.

“We can advocate on their behalf with their energy providers. We can support clients to make sure energy providers are doing what they are meant to do.”

• Anyone in South Gloucestershire seeking free, independent, impartial and confidential advice from Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire can call 0808 278 7947 or visit: southgloscab.org.uk
• Anyone wishing to donate to Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire to help it continue its vital work should visit: https://bit.ly/3kG7HyB

Published 19/04/23.