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Scheme to help poor pensioners manage energy bills: statement by The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP

The new mandatory Warm Home Discount scheme, worth up to £1.1bn over four years, has come in to force. Under the new scheme pensioners on Pension…

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The new mandatory Warm Home Discount scheme, worth up to £1.1bn over four years, has come in to force. Under the new scheme pensioners on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit only will automatically receive annual rebates of at least £120 off their electricity bills, with some support available for other groups too. The scheme is projected to help around two million households per year, with the majority of the rebates delivered by energy suppliers in the winter months. The Warm Home Discount replaces the previous voluntary agreement with energy suppliers which ended in March this year.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP said:

“The Warm Home Discount will give the most vulnerable pensioners practical help to manage rising energy bills through an annual rebate. Energy companies will be required by law to provide this support.”

Published 4 April 2011