Additional Energy Bill Support Scheme launched

Published: 27 February 2023

Applications to the Government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme – Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) have opened today (Monday 27 February), bringing more, much-needed help to many Derby residents.

EBSS Alternative Funding means that households who didn’t receive the original energy bills support, such as those without their own electricity meter or without a direct relationship to an electricity supplier, can receive a £400 support payment.

This might include people who live in care homes or park homes, residents of caravans and houseboats, as well as some private tenants. There are lots of circumstances that might have led you to miss the original Energy Bills Support Scheme. The updated package aims to get the right support to everybody who needs it.

If you don’t heat your home with mains gas and use an alternative fuel which could include oil, biomass and bottled gas, you might also be able to get an additional £200 payment, known as the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP).
Residents can apply for the EBSS Alternative Funding and AFP via the gov.uk website until Wednesday 31 May. A Dedicated helpline is also available for residents who need support to complete an application or cannot apply online. The freephone number, 0808 175 3287 will be open from 8.00am - 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Once an application has been made, The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will make a series of checks. Once those checks have been completed, the details are then given a final check by Derby City Council to ensure that the resident lives at the address they have provided. If the application is approved, a one-off payment will be made directly to the resident with no need to repay. It may take up to four weeks to process an application so eligible residents are encouraged to apply as soon as they can. The first payments are expected to be made from the 17th April 2023.

Full eligibility criteria and further information is available on the Government website.

Councillor Jon Smale, Cabinet Member for Finance, Digital and Culture, said:

Whilst many households in the city automatically received support from the Government for their energy bills, not everyone received the payment. The EBSS Alternative Funding aims to reach those that did not receive the support in the original scheme but are still responsible for paying energy bills through their rent or other means.

Further help and advice about the Cost of Living Crisis is available on the Community Action Derby website.

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