6 February 2024
Energy Redress Scheme – Main Fund and Small Project Fund
Grants are available to registered charities for projects that support vulnerable households in England, Scotland and Wales that are most at risk from cold homes and high energy bills.
The Ofgem Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme, known as the Energy Redress Scheme, is funded through payments from energy companies who may have breached rules. The Energy Saving Trust has been appointed by Ofgem to distribute the funding to charities.
Registered charities in Great Britain can apply now for a Main Grant or a Small Project Grant, which aim to:
- Support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
- Deliver benefits to the types of consumers that were negatively impacted by the specific issues that triggered redress payments.
Vulnerability can impact consumers at different points in their lives and can manifest itself in several ways, such as facing difficulty in paying energy bills or being less able to make effective choices in the energy market. A wide range of factors can exacerbate vulnerability, ranging from living on a low income to having disabilities or illness and/or a reliance on electricity for heating.
Funding for the Spring round is as follows:
- Small Project Fund contains £750,000 and offers grants of between £20,000 and £49,999 for projects that will support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
- Main Project Fund contains £13.25 million and offers grants of between £50,000 and £2 million for projects that will support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
The grants can be used for capital or revenue funding and can provide up to 100% of the project cost. Projects lasting up to two years can be funded.
Examples of the kind of activities that can be funded include:
- Engaging vulnerable consumers with energy issues and delivering energy advice and support that does not duplicate existing services.
- Installation of energy saving or renewable energy measures that cannot be funded from other sources.
- Training and education on energy issues that are targeted at supporting vulnerable consumers.
- Crisis support, linked to energy bills or the energy efficiency of a property, only as part of a wider energy advice project aimed at providing sustainable change for a client.
Before applying, organisations need to pre-register by visiting the Energy Redress registration page. Organisations that have not yet registered with the scheme must do so 10 working days before the relevant fund closes to allow time for eligibility checks to take place.
The deadline for Round 7 applications is 20 February 2024 (17:00).