Fuel Grant Scheme 2024/25

Residents with low earnings and in receipt of certain benefits may be eligible for assistance with fuel costs over the winter period.

The scheme is open for six weeks to allow low-income households to apply for assistance with their fuel costs. If successful, payment of up to £170 will be made directly to your energy supplier. 

These suppliers include, but are not limited to:

• British Gas 
• EDF 
• E.ON 
• Octopus Energy 
• OVO 
• Scottish Power 
• Utilita Energy 
• Utility Warehouse 

The scheme is open for six weeks from 2 December 2024 and closes on 17 January 2025.

If your application is successful, payment to your utility provider will be made in the week commencing 10 February 2025. 

Who is eligible

This scheme is open to anyone on a low income in receipt of Housing Benefit, Universal Credit or Council Tax Reduction. This includes pensioners.

You are still eligible if you receive help with your fuel costs from anywhere else, including any new energy schemes. 

Only one award can be made per eligible household.

Proof required

To support your application you must provide evidence of the following:

• Proof of any state benefits or pensions received, such as copies of bank or post office statements, or DWP award letters 
• A copy of your most recent Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction decision notice if you are entitled to either 
• A copy of a letter, bill or statement from your energy supplier showing your account number 

Account reference number

It is important that you include the correct account reference number on your application form.

This will make sure the payment is paid correctly to your energy supplier. 

We have put together this guidance that explains what an electricity or gas account reference number looks like for popular suppliers:

• British Gas - starts with A, BGX, or is 12 numbers starting with 85 
• EDF - starts with A- followed by a combination of 8 letters and numbers, or is 12 numbers starting with 67
• E.ON - starts with A- followed by a combination of 8 letters and numbers
• Octopus - starts with A- followed by a combination of 8 letters and numbers
• OVO - it will be 7 numbers long, or 8 numbers starting with a 2
• Scottish Power - it will be 11 numbers long and start with 16

Apply online

This year, separate application forms have been set up for the five most used energy providers, based on last years' applications. 

Apply using the application form for your provider:

• British Gas
• EDF
• E-ON
• Octopus
• OVO
• Scottish Power

If you use a different provider, you should use our other provider form.

You will need to register before you to make your online application. If you applied for the fuel grant in 2023/24 using the online portal, then you will not need to register again - you can use the same login details.

Online applications are open until midnight on Friday 17 January 2025. Applications received after that time will not be processed. 

Paper application forms

If you are not able to apply online, you can collect an application form from your local library or from the Civic Centre.

Alternatively, you can request a copy by emailing rwfs@richmond.gov.uk. You should then print off and complete the form. 

Return your completed application form to us with the required evidence in support of your application. Our address is: 

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
Fuel Grants Scheme
Civic Centre
44 York Street
Twickenham
TW1 3BZ

You can also deliver your application by hand to this address.

Paper application forms must be received by 5pm on Friday 17 January 2025.

Payments to utility providers 

Applications will be processed as they are received and payments will be made directly to your utility provider in the week commencing 10 February 2025. 

Contact us 

If you have any queries, call us on 0208 891 1411 or email rwfs@richmond.gov.uk.