Last week the Minister for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart announced that the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding will launch no later than 27th February 2023. Bargee Travellers, many liveaboard boaters on moorings, and many other off-grid households living in vehicles, caravans and on the land will be waiting even longer for the support that most people got around 4 months ago, including second home owners for both of their homes.
This is extremely disappointing news and the NBTA recommends that boaters write to their MP using this template letter: Template letter to MPs re Energy Bills
A spokesperson for the Department for Energy, Business and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) told the NBTA that “the pilot for this funding began on 16th January with test data being used across the four local authorities involved. When ready, the pilot local authorities will use live data to test their digital systems, and also the end-to-end user journey. We [BEIS] are in contact with local authorities and stakeholders to identify potential sites where households will be able to submit applications to be used during this pilot phase… Work is ongoing on the issues [the NBTA and BEIS] discussed around the eligibility of itinerant boat dwellers/travellers”. The BEIS representative also stated that they hoped to publish advice shortly.
See
https://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/offgrid-park-mobile-care-home
If you live on a mooring with an electricity hook-up, see the information on these pages
https://www.gov.uk/get-help-energy-bills/pay-electricity-with-rent
and