OVO Energy are offering the most vulnerable customers free electric blankets to help keep warm this winter.
Eligible customers may find they can reduce their energy costs with the products, by heating themselves rather than the entire home.
The energy provider has pledged £56million in extra support from October 1 as fresh research shows more than nine in ten Britonsare worried about their bills this winter.
With seven in ten saying their anxiety over rising costs is worse than last year, the scheme aims to ease the pressure on households.
The support package will provide vulnerable families with free energy-saving items, direct financial help and even major home upgrades.
Since 2022, the company has already handed out £190million in assistance, helping 42,000 households last year alone.
The new plan includes practical freebies such as heated blankets, smart plugs and energy-efficient devices to cut down usage.
Eligible households may also qualify for free home improvements through the Great British Insulation Scheme, including loft insulation, new boilers and even advanced heating systems like heat pumps.
The energy provider has pledged £56million in extra support from October 1
| PAThe £56million support package also includes practical financial relief, such as reduced Direct Debit payments, emergency credit for those who run out of funds, and flexible repayment plans to ease pressure on struggling families.
The provider is partnering with charities including StepChange, the Money Advice Trust, Scope, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Warm Welcome Campaign to ensure help reaches those who need it most.
A dedicated in-house team will also work directly with customers facing the toughest financial challenges.
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Electric blankets can help people keep warm without heating the whole house | GETTYFuel poverty in England has now hit record levels, with nine million households unable to afford adequate heating, a 62 per cent jump since 2020.
Experts warn the crisis is even worse than during the peak of the energy shock, showing just how persistent the problem has become.
Research commissioned by OVO found that 67 per cent of the public want the government to step in and introduce a social tariff system, offering lower rates to vulnerable households.
More than three-quarters of respondents believe such a scheme would deliver meaningful benefits to vulnerable households, whilst 53 per cent anticipate direct positive impacts for themselves or their acquaintances.
Green Alliance analysis suggests a social tariff would surpass the government's Warm Home Discount in lifting households from poverty
| GETTYOVO's chief executive David Buttress emphasised that whilst the support package addresses immediate needs, systemic change remains essential: "We need to make the energy system work better for everyone. That starts with targeted support in the form of a social tariff - no one can be, or no one needs to be left behind."
Green Alliance analysis suggests a social tariff would surpass the government's Warm Home Discount in lifting households from poverty.
David Barclay from the Warm Welcome Campaign praised the partnership's role in creating safe spaces for practical assistance, whilst StepChange chief executive Vikki Brownridge highlighted the initiative's importance in addressing both energy debt and broader financial difficulties.