Fuel Bank Foundation

Prepaying for energy but not having the money to do so means living without heat, light and power. The Fuel Bank Foundation provides people with the financial support and practical advice that they need to get back on their feet. The people we support access our help via our network of over 850 partners across the UK. Partners send emergency referrals to us when they speak with someone with a prepayment meter or living off the mains gas grid, and is living without access to heat, hot water, and power, or will be within the next few days.

Each year in the UK, countless people lose access to heat, light, and power at home because they must prepay for energy but cannot afford to. We call this fuel crisis.

Fuel crisis is a serious issue. Regularly living without access to heat, hot water, light, and power causes physical and mental health conditions – and makes existing ones far worse.

We are the only national charity in the UK that exists to support people who have lost - or are at risk of losing access to energy at home.

We do this by:

• gifting our clients around ten days’ worth of energy - including mains gas, mains electricity, and unregulated fuels like coal and heating oil - to keep the lights, power, and heat on,
• providing tailored advice and support that helps people get back on their feet in the long term and,
• collaborating with policy decision-makers and the regulator, offering our expert advice and insights to influence systemic changes that make it easier for the people we support to maintain access to their energy supply.

Tips

Worried about being able to top up your pre-payment meter?

We know that there is lots of advice about what to do and who to contact but we wanted to share the three big things that we have found have made a difference.

1. Contact your supplier. They might be able to help!

• They can reduce any weekly charges for an old debt to something that is affordable for you today.
• They might be able to provide a discretionary credit to you if you are struggling, although this may need to be repaid.
• They can make sure that your meter is working properly, charging the right rates, and will be able to explain whether a smart meter might suit you more.
• You can make sure that they know about your situation, and they can tell you about other help they can provide. This could include applying for a trust fund grant or helping you get specialist help.

2. Make sure that you are getting everything you can.

• Use the Turn2Us benefits checker to make sure that you are receiving the maximum.
• Have kids? Speak to your school about Free School Meals, or to the NHS for Healthy Start or Best Start vouchers for pre-schoolers or if you’re pregnant.
• Speak to your water company about being on their social tariff. It can save £200 per year.
• Speak to your local authority or landlord about the crisis help that they can provide.

3. Reduce what you spend on energy.

• Keep curtains drawn to keep in heat and keep out drafts.
• If you rent your home report badly fitting windows and doors to your landlord.
• Use a sheet of bubble wrap to provide more insulation for a cold bathroom window.
• Only use hot water when it is needed and don’t heat it up too much. Wash at 30 degrees and aim for 60 degrees for any hot water out of taps.