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Warm Home Discount Payment Update

For this year’s Warm Home Discount, all eligible customers will receive their payment in January 2026.

We know many of our customers are used to receiving their Warm Home Discount in two payments across the winter – and some of you may have been expecting the first payment around December. However, this year things will work a little differently.

What’s new?

Eligible customers will receive their full £150 payment in one single instalment in January 2026, rather than two smaller payments.

Don’t forget, if you’ve got any debt with us, your Warm Home Discount payment will be used to recover this first.

Having one payment we hope will make things a little easier for you.
• One clear amount – no need to wait for the second instalment.
• Straightforward budgeting – you’ll know exactly what support you have available once it arrives.
• Less confusion – no tracking multiple dates or wondering when the next payment will land.

What happens next?

There’s nothing you need to do – your payment will be made automatically, and we’ll send you an email or letter confirming when it’s been paid.

We’ll begin making payments from 7 January 2026 and will continue making payments throughout the month.

Because payments are being made in batches, not everyone will receive theirs on the same day.
If you haven’t heard anything from us by 28 January 2026, please get in touch so we can look into it for you.

Why your payment is later than normal this year

The Warm Home Discount is a Government scheme, and several organisations are involved in how it’s funded and delivered:
• The Government decides who’s eligible and sets the rules for the scheme.
• Ofgem, makes sure every supplier follows those rules and pays their fair share.
• Energy suppliers, like us, fund the scheme and make the actual payment to customers.

Here’s what’s different this year:
Because more of our customers qualify for the Warm Home Discount compared to many other suppliers, we need to pay out a higher amount upfront. This is normal and expected - but this year we’re paying a lot more customers, so we need to receive funding to be able to make payments to customers.

This year, The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have set the dates that we’ll get these funds as January 2026. That timing determines when we’re able to make payments to you - which is why we can’t send a first instalment in December as we have in previous years.

We know how important this support is, especially through the winter. That’s why we’ve been working closely with Government and Ofgem for months to minimise delays and make sure you still receive the full amount as quickly as possible.

To reassure you:
• This isn’t a Utilita decision.
• We’re not holding on to any payments.
• January 2026 is the earliest point we can make your payment.

Need more help?

If you have any questions, the best place to find information is on our website.

We also know lots of people are still struggling to afford their energy. You’ll find lots of resources on our Help Centre if you’re finding it difficult.

You can also visit GOV.UK for more information about any Government schemes.

Thank you,

Utilita Energy