Octopus Energy has confirmed it will continue to offer free electric blankets to customers who need them most this autumn and winter, alongside financial and practical support through its Octo Assist scheme.
To date, the energy provider said it has distributed more than 110,000 blankets, prioritising vulnerable customers, including those whose health puts them at greater risk from the cold. An energy-efficient electric blanket could heat a person for just 2-4p an hour.
Increased hardship fund and social worker team
As well as giving out free electric blankets, Octopus said it has increased its Octo Assist hardship fund by 50%, providing £60m worth of support to vulnerable customers through standing charge holidays, debt write-offs, and You-Pay-We-Pay payment matching to help customers reduce debt.
Beyond financial help, Octopus said it was the first energy supplier to have an in-house social worker team. "Our specialists carry out 400 interactions each month, providing invaluable one-to-one support that goes far beyond energy bills."
Saving Sessions rewards
Octopus customers can also save money during "Saving Sessions". Here, households with smart meters are rewarded for using less electricity at peak times - Power Down sessions - by making decisions such as scheduling the laundry for later on, or washing dishes by hand rather than firing up the dishwasher.
There are also Power Up sessions, when more renewable energy is abundant. Customers will be rewarded for all the extra electricity used during these, compared to normal.
