Households across Devon are being urged to seek financial support as energy bills are set to rise again this autumn.
The energy regulator Ofgem has announced that its price cap will increase by four per cent from October.
For a typical household on a standard variable tariff, the rise could add around £60 a year to energy costs, putting further pressure on families already facing higher household expenses.
Devon households experiencing financial hardship may be able to receive help through the Government-funded Crisis and Resilience Fund (CaRF).
The fund is designed to support low-income households facing a sudden financial shock, including an unexpected bill, a loss or reduction in income, or difficulty paying for essential costs such as food, energy, water, housing or heating oil.
As well as emergency financial assistance, the scheme can provide advice and wider support intended to help households improve their financial resilience and reduce the risk of future crises.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund replaced the Household Support Fund earlier this year and is being delivered across Devon through district and city councils, alongside Citizens Advice Devon.
Support is targeted at people experiencing genuine financial difficulty, and payments made through the scheme do not affect benefit entitlement.
Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband, said the increase in energy costs could cause further concern for families heading into winter.
‘Many families will be worried to hear that energy bills are going up again just as we head towards winter’, she said.
‘We know that a sudden increase in household costs, an unexpected bill or a change in circumstances can quickly push people into financial difficulty.
‘The Crisis and Resilience Fund is there to help people through those moments.
‘It can provide practical support with essential costs, including energy bills, while also helping people access advice and services that can improve their long-term financial wellbeing’.
She urged people who are struggling financially, or who know someone who may be, to check whether support is available.
‘Too many people assume they won’t qualify or that help isn’t there.
‘The fund exists to support people when they need it most’, she said.
The council said the support could be particularly important in Devon’s rural communities, where households can face higher fuel and transport costs and may be more exposed to increases in living expenses.
People do not have to be receiving benefits to be considered for support.
Eligibility is based on individual circumstances and whether a household is experiencing a sudden financial difficulty.
Examples of circumstances that could qualify include a loss of income, an unexpected essential expense, difficulty paying for heating oil or another one-off emergency that places a household under financial pressure.
Devon Families Urged to Seek Energy Bill Support