Find out about the government's scheme to help households with rising energy costs.

Page updated 21 April 2023

Energy Bills Support Scheme and Alternative Fuel Payment

The Energy Bills Support Scheme provides a one-off support payment of £400, and the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) provides £200 for energy bills for households in England, Scotland, and Wales without a direct relationship to a domestic electricity supplier. This support is provided by Central Government and is delivered by local councils. 

Both schemes are now open to all eligible households (see details below) across Great Britain until 31 May 2023.

Energy Bills Support Scheme

Eligibility 

People who will be able to receive support under this scheme include:

  • care home residents and others in care facilities or sheltered accommodation (wholly or partly self-funded)
  • park home residents, houseboats and caravans that can provide proof of address
  • social and private tenants who pay for energy through a landlord on a commercial supply
  • homes on a heat network or private wire
  • off-grid homes
  • farmhouses used for wholly domestic purposes

Visit apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically for further information about this scheme.

Alternative Fuel Payment

Eligibility

You may be eligible for a one-off support payment of £200 through the Alternative Fuels Payment scheme (AFP) if both the following are true:

  • your household is not connected to the mains gas grid
  • you use alternative fuels as your main form of heating

This payment is on top of the £400 from your electricity supplier or the Energy Bills Support Scheme.

You’re eligible for this payment if the main way you heat your home uses:

  • tank or bottled gas
  • liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
  • oil
  • wood
  • solid fuel

Most homes that are eligible for this payment and have a direct relationship with an electricity supplier will get it automatically as a credit on their electricity bills from February 2023. If you have not received this payment, please contact your electricity supplier directly. Those unable to receive this funding must submit an Alternative Fuel Payment application.

How to apply 

Applications for both schemes are made separately and directly via the Government website, not to or via North Norfolk District Council. Please do not contact us about this scheme.

If you are eligible for Energy Bills Support Scheme and Alternative Fuel Payment, you must fill out a short online form featured on the following webpages:

Apply for energy bill support if you do not get it automatically

Apply for alternative fuel bill support if you do not get it automatically

Need help applying

You can apply via a contact centre using the following details, where a representative will guide you through the application process.

Email: alternativefunding@ebss.beis.gov.uk

Telephone: 0808 175 3287

Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm

How will I be paid

Once you have applied and your application has been processed and verified, your details will be shared with local councils, who will deliver the one-off, non-repayable support.

Payments can only be made directly into your bank account in a single instalment for each scheme. 

Support for non-domestic alternative fuel consumers 

This scheme has now closed.