If you’re worried about rising energy bills, you’re not alone – but help is at hand.

In 2025, an Age UK report showed that 42% – equivalent to 5.1 million – of people were concerned about rising energy bills putting pressure on household finances.

This article guides you through the practical steps of getting the support you need to make those bills more manageable.

financial help with electricity bills

Speak to Your Supplier

The first port of call should be to speak with your electricity supplier. And ideally do it as soon as you can. Ignoring the problem can make it harder to resolve in the long run, so starting the conversation early is key.

Suppliers have a responsibility to help customers in financial difficulty. If you already owe money, they may be able to offer you a payment plan to reduce the bill over a period of time based on what you can realistically afford. Or if you’ve only recently fallen behind, they may give you more time to pay.

Find freephone numbers to call your provider on the Smart Energy GB website.

Check For Other Support Available

You may be eligible for financial support through government benefits or energy-related schemes. This could include things like the Warm Home Discount, the Winter Fuel Payment or similar schemes depending on where you live. Use the British Gas Energy Trustgrants checker to see if we can help you – you don’t even need to be a British Gas customer.

Local authorities also run various schemes, like hardship funds, with varying degrees of eligibility criteria. the Household Support Fund can be used tohelp to pay for electricity bills. Use the council checker to see what support might be available in your area.

Get Free, Independent Advice

There are plenty of charities and organisations to turn to, if you’re still needing a little helping hand. We fund many organisations to help people needing free, confidential support services. As well as helping you plan your next steps with your bills, they’ll be able to check if you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to. Take a look at the list of our Local Advice Centres to see if there’s one in your area.

Reduce Your Electricity Use Where Possible

Small changes can make a big difference to lower electricity costs over time. Simple things like:

  • Turning appliances off at the wall rather than leaving them on stand-by mode
  • Switching to energy-saving lightbulbs
  • Only running the washing machine when you have a full load ready to wash
  • Drying clothes outside where possible instead of using tumble dryers