Octopus Energy and OVO Energy are offering free electric blankets to customers this winter. The energy companies hope to reduce eligible customers’ energy bills in a bid to keep themselves warm instead of heating their whole homes.

OVO Energy has announced a £50million Extra Support Package. The scheme will see certain customers have access to free energy-saving products including electric blankets and mattress toppers.

Elsewhere, Octopus Energy will relaunch its electric blanket scheme which will give 20,000 free blankets to vulnerable customers.

The initiative, which started in January 2022, aims to reduce winter heating bills by up to a staggering 20 percent.

Ovo Energy and Octopus Energy’s schemes will come in line with the energy price cap which is set to increase from October 1.

It will see those living in England, Wales and Scotland be hit with a 10 percent increase in energy bills, rising by £149 from the current £1,568 a year for a typical household to £1,717.

Octopus Energy’s scheme is open to all customers through its Octo Assist Fund. However, there is a priority for those who are “medically vulnerable, elderly, or living alone”.

Nevertheless, Octopus Energy customers who are worried about their bills should get in contact with the company.

Mario Lupori, director at Octopus Energy Group, said: “We know many people are worried about the costs of heating their homes over winter. An electric blanket means you heat the human, not the home – staying warm for as little as 3p an hour.”

Meanwhile, OVO Energy’s initiative has a whole host of schemes available to eligible customers. These include free energy-saving products including electric throws and home efficiency kits.

There’s also a £50 million scheme which includes payment holidays for prepayment customers and increased emergency credit of £15.

Finally, customers can get support through Direct Debit reductions and extended repayment plans. OVO Energy will look at eligible applications based on factors like household income, disposable income and medical requirements.

How customers can apply for a free electric blanket from Octopus Energy: 

One blanket per household is available to vulnerable customers.

Brits are urged to create a Paylink budget to see what support is available, and to see if they qualify for help. Someone will then access the application and inform them of their outcome.

Octopus Energy said they aim to let customers know within a week of their application. The company said: “Customers who apply for our OctoAssist will be assessed and offered the support that’ll be most appropriate for them.”

How customers can apply for a free electric blanket from OVO Energy:

OVO Energy’s scheme will be open on October 1 2024. The Customer Support Package is available to OVO and Boost customers who can apply to the scheme online.

The application process should take around five minutes to complete and is eligible for one per household.

OVO customers will need to have this information at the ready:

• Monthly disposable income (any income after they’ve paid tax, rent or mortgage payments, and essentials like utility bills). You can also use the online tool to help work this out.

• An up-to-date metre reading.