Managing household bills can be challenging, especially when the cost of living continues to rise. If you're a resident of Derbyshire and are struggling to keep up with your gas, electricity, or water bills, you will find links to websites that offer help.

This page contains resources and links to organisations that can help reduce your utility costs or provide financial assistance. Whether you're looking for advice on energy efficiency, or help to apply for discounts and grants, you'll find useful links to schemes and information available to Derbyshire residents.

Understanding and reducing your energy bills

Ofgem - How your electricity or gas bill is calculated

Energy bills can be complicated, but understanding how they are calculated can help you manage your energy costs. The UK's energy regulator, Ofgem, explains how electricity and gas bills are calculated, including energy tariffs, unit rates and standing charges. It also provides information about the costs included in your bill, building up credit and what to do if there is a problem with your bill.

National Energy Action - How to read your energy bills

National Energy Action (NEA) has a guide to help you understand the information shown on your gas and electricity bills, also available in Easy Read. It explains common terms such as account balance, meter readings, tariffs, unit rates and standing charges, as well as the difference between credit and prepayment meters. It also includes an example bill to help you identify the different information you may see on your own bill.

Energy Saving Trust

Small changes can make a big difference when it comes to saving energy and money. The Energy Saving Trust offers expert advice on how to reduce your energy use at home, lower your bills, and make your home more efficient. From quick tips to long-term improvements, this guide is packed with practical ideas to help you stay warm and save money, whatever your budget.

Energy Advice and Support

Local Energy Advice: Warmer Derby and Derbyshire

If you're struggling with your gas or electricity bills, or want to make your home more energy efficient, Marches Energy Agency (MEA) may be able to help. Through their 'Warmer Derby and Derbyshire' project, they offer:

  • Free, impartial advice on managing energy costs
  • Help to access grants for insulation and heating
  • Support tailored to your health and home needs

Better Housing Better Health

If you're worried about keeping your home warm or managing energy costs, Better Housing Better Health offers free, expert advice to help you stay safe and well.

  • Help with improving energy efficiency
  • Access to grants and funding for home improvements
  • Support for people with health conditions affected by cold homes
  • Referrals to other local services

Groundwork Five Counties - Green Doctor

Groundwork's Green Doctor offers support to households by providing energy advice to save money, use energy more efficiently, and stay warm for less. This is free of charge to anyone in the East Midlands.

Financial Support

Warm Home Discount

The scheme is operating for 2026 to 2027 and provides eligible households with a £150 energy-bill discount. In England and Wales, eligible households are generally identified automatically based on receipt of qualifying means-tested benefits. For more information, please visit: GOV.UK - Warm Home Discount: eligibility statement, England and Wales, 2026 to 2027

British Gas Energy Trust

The British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) provides grants and money advice for people struggling with energy debt. Support may be available to customers of British Gas and some other suppliers, although you may need to apply to your own energy supplier’s support fund first. Eligibility criteria and evidence requirements apply.

Derbyshire Discretionary Fund (DDF)

The Derbyshire Discretionary Fund may be able to provide emergency financial help following a crisis or disaster. Depending on your circumstances, support may include a crisis payment or help with essential household items. Eligibility criteria apply.

Household Energy Payment

The government announced a one-off £100 Household Energy Payment for households in council tax bands A to D, with councils expected to begin making payments from January 2027. A discretionary fund will also support some households outside the main eligibility criteria. As detailed delivery guidance is still pending, this should only be added once there is a stable public-facing application or information page for Derbyshire residents. For more information, please visit: GOV.UK - Council tax information letter 6/2026: Household Energy Payment 2027

Energy Supplier Support

OVO Energy Support for Customers

If you're an OVO Energy customer and finding it difficult to manage your energy bills, OVO's Energy Support may be able to help:

  • Flexible payment plans tailored to your financial situation
  • Pay As You Go meters to help you stay in control of your usage
  • Customer Support Package offering practical help like boiler servicing and energy-saving items
  • OVO Energy Fund (when available) to help clear energy debt for low-income households

E.ON Next Energy Fund

If you're an E.ON Next customer and struggling with your energy bills, the E.ON Next Energy Fund could help you get back on track. Support includes:

  • Help with clearing energy debt (after a 3-month payment plan)
  • Free energy-efficient appliances to replace old or broken ones
  • Smaller items to help reduce energy use and stay warm

EDF Energy Bill Debt Advice

If you're struggling to keep up with your energy bills, support is available. EDF Energy offers practical advice and assistance for customers facing financial difficulties, including help with:

  • managing debt
  • setting up payment plans
  • and accessing grants or support schemes

Priority Services Register

Disabled people, people with long-term health conditions, pregnant people, families with young children and people experiencing temporary vulnerability may receive free additional help from their energy supplier or network operator. Support can include accessible bills, advance notice of planned power cuts, meter-reading assistance and help accessing a prepayment meter. For more information, please visit: Ofgem - Join your suppliers Priority Service Register

Help with Water Bills

Severn Trent's Big Difference Scheme

If you're finding it hard to keep up with your water bills, Severn Trent's Big Difference Scheme may be able to help. Eligible households could receive up to £411 off a yearly bill.

  • Open to all Severn Trent customers with a household income below £24,454
  • Additional allowances for households with children
  • Tailored payment plans and support with existing debt
  • Scheme runs for 12 months, with the option to reapply

Help with heating oil and LPG

Help with heating oil and LPG costs

Derbyshire County Council may be able to help vulnerable, low-income households that are struggling with the cost of heating oil or LPG. To qualify, your household must meet eligibility criteria relating to income, vulnerability and your need for heating oil or LPG. Support is usually a contribution of up to £350 towards the increased cost of fuel. In exceptional circumstances, the full cost of up to 500 litres of fuel may be considered. For more information, please visit: Derbyshire County Council - Help with Heating Oil and LPG costs

Rural Action Derbyshire Community Oil Buying Scheme

If you use heating oil to heat your home, the Rural Action Derbyshire Community Oil Buying Scheme may help you access competitive prices. The scheme is free to join and there is no obligation to buy. Members receive regular price updates and can order heating oil when they need it. Orders and payments are made through the scheme's heating oil supplier. For more information, please visit: Rural Action Derbyshire - Community Oil Buying Scheme