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<\/p>\nA MAJOR energy supplier is giving away free gadgets to help households avoid putting on the heating this winter.<\/p>\n
OVO Energy, with 4.5million customers, has launched its Customer Support Package.<\/p>\n
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As part of the \u00a340million package, the firm is offering customers free energy-saving products, including electric blankets.<\/p>\n
Households can also claim mattress toppers, LED light bulbs and SMART sockets as well as free boiler servicing.<\/p>\n
SMART sockets connect to your WiFi and can be remote-controlled.<\/p>\n
OVO is also offering eligible customers emergency credit or temporary payment reductions.<\/p>\n
Raman Bhatia, chief executive officer of OVO, said: "We have a responsibility as an industry to address the challenge households face right now.<\/p>\n "Our \u00a340m support package provides help to those who need it most this winter."<\/p>\n OVO said the free gadgets and other support will be offered to customers in financial vulnerability.<\/p>\n Either way, it's worth applying as it only takes a few minutes and you could be eligible without realising.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n OVO's Customer Support Package is open to both OVO and Boost Energy customers – you can apply on its website.<\/p>\n The firm said applications should take around five minutes but you should have some information ready to hand, including:<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n You can make applications on behalf of yourself and others, for example a family member that doesn't have access to the internet.<\/p>\n Struggling energy customers can get a raft of support depending on who their supplier is.<\/p>\n A number of firms offer hard-up households up to \u00a31,500 in free grants, which don't have to be paid back.<\/p>\n There's the British Gas Energy Support Fund which opened on October 2 and open to customers struggling to pay their bills.<\/p>\n Any British\u00a0Gas\u00a0or Scottish Gas energy customer struggling to pay their energy bill and who has sought\u00a0money\u00a0and energy advice is eligible to apply.<\/p>\n 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 \u00a3750.<\/p>\n Octopus Energy and E.ON both have schemes too.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In most cases though you will need to prove you are struggling to pay your bills.<\/p>\n 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 \u00a310.<\/p>\n But the credit has to be paid back eventually as it's not a grant.<\/p>\n A number of providers offer the credit, including Scottish Power, Octopus Energy, British Gas and EDF.<\/p>\n Prepayment meter customers can also get one-off vouchers to top up.<\/p>\n The help comes via the Fuel Bank Foundation charity and is offered through local organisations such as food banks and Citizens Advice.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/SC_CONSUMER_ENERGY-SAVEV2_COMP-1.jpg\")
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How to apply<\/h2>\n
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