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Scotland

Help to pay energy bills

If you cannot afford your gas and electric bills, check if you can get a grant or discount. You can also contact your supplier to see if they have support available.

You can get free money advice to help you manage your costs and deal with debt.

Contact your supplier

Most energy suppliers have grants and hardship funds that can help with bills. You could get extra support if you or someone you live with is vulnerable.

Check which suppliers have grants on mygov.scot.

Contact your supplier and explain all your circumstances. For example, tell them if:

  • you’re disabled or have health problems, including mental health

  • you’re pregnant or have young children

  • you’re pension age

Check you’re getting the right benefits

Claiming benefits can give you access to schemes, grants and discounts to help with bills. Even if you’re in work, you could be entitled to claim.

To check what you could get:

For some grants you'll need to show you've spoken to an adviser before you can apply. Check our advice on getting money and debt advice.

Check if you can get government support

The UK and Scottish governments have schemes that can help you to pay for your energy bills:

Find other grants and schemes

A grant is usually a one-off payment. You do not have to pay the money back.

The council has schemes including:

Use the Turn2Us grant search to find charitable grants in your area.

If you’re on a prepayment meter

If you cannot afford to top up your prepayment meter, you could:

  • ask your energy supplier for temporary credit

  • ask the council for a fuel voucher

  • contact your local Citizens Advice

If you pay your energy bills to your landlord

Your tenancy agreement should say who is responsible for the bills.

If your bills are included in the rent

Your landlord can choose how much rent to charge in total. If they want to increase the rent to cover increased energy costs, there's a process they must follow, and you can usually challenge the increase.

Check our advice to see if your landlord can increase your rent.

If you pay bills to your landlord separately from your rent

Your landlord can only charge you for the gas and electricity you’ve used. They cannot sell the energy to you at a higher price than the supplier charges.

If you think you’re being overcharged, ask your landlord to show you how your bill is calculated. Contact Citizens Advice if you’re having problems with your bills.

Get help to keep your bills down

Contact Home Energy Scotland for advice on keeping your home warm and reducing your bills.

You could get a grant or loan to make your home more energy efficient. Use the Home Energy Scotland funding finder to see what's available in your area.

Last updated: 29 April 2024

Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.

This content applies to Scotland only.

Get advice if you're in England