By Linda Howard
With the energy price cap changing again this week, many households across Great Britain, particularly those using prepayment meters (PPM), may be feeling anxious about how they will manage their bills this summer. From July 1 to September 30, the energy price cap will decrease by 7 per cent, a reduction of about 拢11 per month compared to the previous quarter. While this is a welcome change for many families, even this modest saving may not be enough to help the over 50 per cent of PPM customers who were in debt to their supplier at the end of 2024. The British Gas Energy Trust is a fuel poverty charity that offers energy debt grants direct to struggling households. Their Individuals and Families Fund (I&F) currently provides grants of up to 拢1,700 to eligible PPM customers in arrears with any energy supplier, if that supplier does not have its own support scheme. Jessica Taplin, CEO of the British Gas Energy Trust, said: 鈥淯nlike customers who pay by direct debit, those on prepayment meters often see their debts taken immediately from any credit they add. “That means they can run out of energy more quickly, and risk slipping into a cycle of debt that鈥檚 much harder to escape. Our Individuals and Families Fund provides lifechanging grants to households facing this cycle, and we encourage anyone to check the criteria and apply.鈥 The Individuals and Families Fund has helped people like 29-year-old Heather, who found herself in financial difficulty following a relationship breakdown and redundancy. She was not eligible for redundancy pay and was relying on friends and family to support her whilst she searched for a new role. Heather managed to secure part-time employment that covered her ongoing energy charges but was unable to clear her debt. Heather applied help from the Fund and was awarded 拢1,102, giving her a fresh start. The Individuals and Families Fund currently provides energy debt grants to eligible households with up to 拢1,700 of debt on a pre-payment meter account. Before applying, you must receive money guidance from a money advice agency or use the online budgeting tool available as part of the application. The fund is open to British Gas and non-British Gas customers. There are other criteria that must be met, check the website here for full details.