A MAJOR energy supplier is giving away free gadgets to help households avoid putting on the heating this winter.
OVO Energy, with 4.5million customers, has launched its Customer Support Package.
As part of the £40million package, the firm is offering customers free energy-saving products, including electric blankets.
Households can also claim mattress toppers, LED light bulbs and SMART sockets as well as free boiler servicing.
SMART sockets connect to your WiFi and can be remote-controlled.
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OVO is also offering eligible customers emergency credit or temporary payment reductions.
Raman Bhatia, chief executive officer of OVO, said: "We have a responsibility as an industry to address the challenge households face right now.
"Our £40m support package provides help to those who need it most this winter."
OVO said the free gadgets and other support will be offered to customers in financial vulnerability.
Either way, it's worth applying as it only takes a few minutes and you could be eligible without realising.
How to apply
OVO's Customer Support Package is open to both OVO and Boost Energy customers - you can apply on its website.
The firm said applications should take around five minutes but you should have some information ready to hand, including:
- Your monthly disposable income (this is any income after you’ve paid tax, rent or mortgage payments, and essentials like utility bills)
- Up-to-date meter readings
You will also have to include how many people live in your home, what your main type of heating is and how you pay for your energy.
On top of this, you will have to state whether you have qualified for the Warm Home Discount before or are on means-tested benefits.
You can make applications on behalf of yourself and others, for example a family member that doesn't have access to the internet.
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What about if I'm not with OVO or Boost?
Struggling energy customers can get a raft of support depending on who their supplier is.
A number of firms offer hard-up households up to £1,500 in free grants, which don't have to be paid back.
There's the British Gas Energy Support Fund which opened on October 2 and open to customers struggling to pay their bills.
Any British Gas or Scottish Gas energy customer struggling to pay their energy bill and who has sought money and energy advice is eligible to apply.
Meanwhile, EDF customers can get help through the supplier's customer support fund and households with Scottish Power can apply for grants worth up to £750.
Octopus Energy and E.ON both have schemes too.
Eligibility for the grants varies depending on which supplier you are with so it's worth checking with yours to see if you can apply.
In most cases though you will need to prove you are struggling to pay your bills.
Energy customers on traditional or smart prepayment meters can usually get "emergency credit" if they have no money left on their meters too. This is normally worth around £10.
But the credit has to be paid back eventually as it's not a grant.
A number of providers offer the credit, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy, British Gas and EDF.
Prepayment meter customers can also get one-off vouchers to top up.
The help comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity and is offered through local organisations such as food banks and Citizens Advice.
You should contact your local council and see if you might be able to get a voucher.
Alternatively, you can try contacting your energy provider who might be able to help.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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