Utilita customer? Apply NOW for a £140 energy discount

Utilita – which has around 600,000 customers – has invited applications from those on low incomes who qualify for the Government's Warm Home Discount scheme, which provides a £140 energy credit between September and March.

The online registration is only open until 2pm on Wednesday 15 August, so you'll need to act fast. The registration doesn't guarantee you'll receive the discount, as Utilita only has to provide a limited number in accordance to Ofgem rules.

Unlike last year when the discount was allocated on a first come, first served basis, Utilita has confirmed it will consider all applications.

Anyone who applied for and received the discount last year with Utilita will be guaranteed to receive it again this year – provided you still qualify and apply before its deadline – with any remaining places allocated at random across other applicants.

This registration is open for those that have a live electricity supply and qualify for the 'broader group' – see below for full criteria.

See our guide for more information.

How does the Warm Home Discount work?

The Warm Home Discount gives millions of vulnerable energy customers with certain suppliers a one-off £140 discount on their electricity bill between September and March – but you need to apply for it each year.

There are two ways to qualify, with a different application process for each.

• Who's part of the Core Group? Government rules state that as of Sunday 8 July, if you were getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit and your name (or your partner's) is on the bill, you're in this group. Provided your energy supplier was part of the scheme, you'll be sent a letter by 7 December 2018 telling you how to apply.

• Who's part of the Broader Group? If you don't qualify for the above, you can still apply for the discount providing you get certain benefits. If you're eligible you'll need to apply directly to the supplier. Each provider who offers the discount may have a different criteria, but the below is the compulsory criteria – and which Utilita is aligning to. The following people are eligible to apply:

  Warm Home Discount Broader Group compulsory criteria

  Eligibility criteria 1		Eligibility Criteria 2
  1	Total household annual income is less than or equal to £16,190 and in receipt of child tax credits or the universal credit equivalent.	And either:	Parental responsibility for a child aged under five living with you.
  			A disabled child living with you with a child disability premium or claiming child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element.
  2	Income support or income-based jobseeker's allowance.	And either:	A disability or pensioner premium.
  			A child who is disabled.
  			Child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element.
  			Parental responsibility for a child aged under five living with you.
  3	Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA).	And either:	The support or work-related component of ESA.
  			A severe or enhanced disability premium.
  			A pensioner premium.
  			A child who is disabled.
  			Child tax credit that includes a disability or severe disability element.
  			Parental responsibility for a child aged under five living with you.
  4	Universal credit and you're either employed, unemployed or self-employed	And either:	Limited capability for work element (with or without a work-related activity element).
  			A disabled child element.
  			Parental responsibility for a child aged under five living with you.

  To get the discount you'll need to stay with your supplier until it's paid.

What are other suppliers doing?

We've contacted Ofgem to find out when the other supplier's deadlines are, and will update this story when we hear back.

Not all energy providers offer the Warm Home Discount, but here's a round-up of those that you'd have to apply directly to, and how to register your interest where applicable:

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