Getting help with your energy bills
Fuel poverty affects the most vulnerable residents in our communities. It can have serious impacts on their wellbeing, especially for:
- young children
- people with reduced mobility
- people aged over 65
- people with a health condition
As a council, we are committed to helping our residents reduce their fuel bills and keep warm and well.
There are several schemes available to Birmingham residents, including:
- free installation of central heating
- switching energy suppliers
- support with fuel debts
- energy saving measures
- energy efficient appliances
Help from your energy supplier
Citizens Advice has a list of energy companies that offer grants to help pay for energy bills.
The following organisations also have schemes to help customers struggling to pay their energy bills:
British Gas Energy Fund also might be able to support you, regardless of your energy supplier.
Energy Company Obligation
The Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) is a government energy efficiency scheme.
Its aim is to help reduce carbon emissions and tackle fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of homes occupied by low income, fuel poor, and vulnerable households.
Find out more about the ECO4 scheme and eligibility
As a Birmingham resident you may qualify through two categories, either:
- because you are in receipt of means-tested benefits under the Help to Heat Grant (HTHG)
Find out more about Help to Heat funding
- or under one of the four ECO Flex routes (ECO Flex)
Read more about ECO4 Flex in our statement of intent
We are working with E.ON to offer free home energy efficiency improvements to qualifying residents.
Find out more about the help available and check your eligibility
Help from the council
We can award you a crisis grant to help you with topping up your gas and electricity pre-payment meter. To get one, you must show that you have already asked your energy supplier for help.
If we award you a crisis grant, a pre-payment card will be available for you to collect.
Help from other providers
LEAP
LEAP (Local Energy Advice Partnership) can provide help and advice with:
- energy switching
- free energy saving measures
- money advice
They can also check if you are eligible for insulation, a new appliance, or a new boiler.
Phone LEAP on 0800 060 7567 or apply for LEAP online.
ECHO
ECHO (Emergency Central Heating Offer) is a scheme that offers emergency help to fuel poor or vulnerable households. They help to repair or replace broken or condemned boilers.
This scheme is available to owner occupiers only.
HEART
HEART is an initiative to support fuel poor and vulnerable households. They help replace old and inefficient appliances with modern and efficient ones.
This includes:
- fridges
- fridge freezers
- washing machines
- electric cookers
Help for homeowners
Furbnow
This is a paid for service on trial with Birmingham City Council.
If you are a homeowner and are not eligible for energy efficiency grant funding, Furbnow can help you build your home energy improvement plan and complete your project without hassle.
You will receive a Home Energy Plan which will help you understand your home's current condition and energy performance.
This will form the basis of your phased Home Energy Plan, recommending suitable energy efficiency measures and materials, as well as building condition work that you need to do to get a great result.
Furbnow can also support you with:
- project support - design and tendering
- project management - managing your whole project from start to finish
Help from the government
Winter fuel payments are available in the winter months. Pensioners can get between £100 and £300 to help pay their heating bills.
Cold weather payments are available if you receive certain benefits and the temperature is 0 degrees or below for more than 7 days.
You may also be eligible for help to heat grants if you are a home owner-occupier.
Energy saving boilers
Money Saving Boiler Challenge will save you money and energy by changing a single setting on your boiler.
Many UK combi boilers burn more gas, generate more carbon emissions, and cost more in energy bills than they need to.
Research shows that by adjusting the boiler flow temperature to 60 degrees or below, households will save money on their energy bill. They will also save an average of 172kg in carbon emissions.
Smart meters
A smart meter can help you take control of your energy use.
Smart meters have an in-house display that shows, at a glance, how much gas and electricity you are using, and how much you are spending.
This means you can plan ahead, knowing how much your energy bill will be. It could also help you make small changes around your home to use less energy, which could save you money too.
Find out more about smart meters
Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2)
The Home Upgrade Grant Phase 2 (HUG2) is designed to help improve the comfort and energy efficiency of lower income homes that are not heated by mains gas central heating. The scheme offers several other benefits, including reducing a home’s carbon footprint and energy bills, with no cost to residents.
We are working with West Midlands Combined Authority and Act on Energy to offer free home energy efficiency improvements to qualifying residents.
Check you eligibility here Act on Energy Expression of Interest
Page last updated: 18 January 2024
