Advice
Does the £100 payment apply to you? Is the heat pump grant safe? Clear answers on the Budget's energy changes, and the next step for your home.
The Budget on 28 October 2026 changed several things about energy bills, grants and loans. Some apply to every home, some only to certain homes, and some not until 2027. We have answered the questions we expect to hear most, grouped by situation, so you can skip to the parts that apply to you. Every answer is based on the official Budget document and gov.uk. Where the government has not published the detail yet, we say so.
At the end there is a short list of next steps for each type of home.
Will my electricity bill go down?
Electricity already has no VAT, since 1 October 2026. The Budget extends that to 1 July 2027, three months longer than planned. The government expects this to take around £50 off the annual price cap from April 2027. It applies to all domestic electricity, whether you are on the price cap, a fixed deal or a prepayment meter.
Do I need to do anything to get the VAT cut?
No. It happens automatically on your bill.
Does this mean my bills will be lower in January?
Not necessarily. Ofgem sets the price cap for January to March 2027 by 25 November, and that depends mostly on wholesale gas prices. The Budget measures sit alongside that, not instead of it. We will share the new figures as soon as they are published.
Will new charges be added to my bills?
The government says no new policy costs will be added to energy bills until it sets up a Cost Control Framework at the 2027 Spending Review, unless a cost brings bills down or is essential to keep supplies secure. A planned new levy on gas bills to pay for hydrogen projects has been dropped.
Who gets the £100?
Households in England whose home is in council tax band A, B, C or D. Payments start from January 2027.
Will I get it in Forest Row?
Possibly not. Nationally, around 80 percent of homes are in bands A to D. In the official statistical area that includes Forest Row, it is about 45 percent: 1,300 of around 2,890 homes, according to Valuation Office Agency figures for March 2026. Across Wealden it is about 62 percent.
How do I check my council tax band?
Use the free gov.uk council tax band checker, or look at your council tax bill.
Do I need to apply? How will it be paid?
The government has not yet published the details. The Budget says the payment will be delivered by councils through the council tax system, so Wealden District Council will set out how it works. Until then, there is nothing to do. Official information will come from Wealden District Council or gov.uk, so treat any unexpected text, email or call asking for bank details to "claim" the £100 with care, and check with the council directly.
I am in band E or above and struggling with bills. Is there anything for me?
The Budget gives councils in England an extra £100 million to help households hit hardest by energy bills, "some of whom are in council tax bands above A-D". Details of how Wealden will use its share have not been published yet. In the meantime, the free Warm Home Check service for East Sussex can look at what help you are eligible for: call 0800 464 7307 or text WARMHOME to 88440 (Warm East Sussex).
Will heating oil get cheaper?
The government is suspending the import tariff on heating kerosene from 26 November 2026 to 31 December 2028. That tariff is 4 percent, and it only applies to oil from countries without a UK trade deal; oil from trade-deal partners already pays nothing (UK Trade Tariff). The government has not published an estimate of how much this will lower prices. Heating oil still has no price cap.
What can I do about the cost this winter?
Compare at least three quotes before each order, and check whether the price includes VAT. If you are finding it hard to pay, call the Warm Home Check service on 0800 464 7307.
Is now a good time to look at a heat pump?
If you have been thinking about it, the timing matters. Oil and LPG homes with no mains gas can get £9,000 towards an Air Source or Ground Source Heat Pump, but the extra £1,500 within that is only available until March 2027 (gov.uk). After that, the grant is £7,500 unless the rules change. Your installer must fit and commission the heat pump within 120 days of applying, so getting quotes this winter leaves time to choose well.
What is happening to the gas standing charge?
The government has asked Ofgem to abolish the daily standing charge on household gas bills by the end of 2027, or as soon as possible after. It averages £108 a year. The cost will move onto the price you pay per unit of gas instead.
Will I save money?
It depends on how much gas you use. The government estimates that around 60 percent of gas households will save about £45 a year. Homes that use a lot of gas could pay more, and the government says it will set out targeted help for those who lose out (gov.uk).
Do I need to do anything?
No. Nothing changes yet. Electricity standing charges will also be reformed, with details due next year.
Is the heat pump grant still available?
Yes. Before the Budget there were reports that it could be cut. The Budget keeps the Boiler Upgrade Scheme at its current funding of £400 million in 2027 to 2028, rising roughly with inflation after that. The grant is £7,500 towards an Air Source or Ground Source Heat Pump, £9,000 for oil and LPG homes with no mains gas until March 2027, and £2,500 for an air-to-air heat pump.
How do I apply?
You do not apply yourself. You get quotes from Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified installers, agree one, and the installer applies to Ofgem for you. The grant is taken off your bill and shown on your quote and invoice (gov.uk).
Who can get the grant?
You must own the property, including a second home or one you let out, and be replacing a fossil fuel or electric heating system. Most new builds, social housing and hybrid systems (a heat pump working alongside a gas boiler) are not eligible (gov.uk).
I rent my home. Can I get it?
Not directly, because the grant goes to the property owner. Your landlord can apply, and it is worth mentioning it to them.
What are they?
Government-backed loans that opened on 27 October 2026 to help pay for home energy upgrades. The government has worked with lenders to cut interest rates by up to five percentage points compared with normal loans, and some loans are interest free (factsheet).
What can I use one for, and how much can I borrow?
Who can apply?
You must own the home, with or without a mortgage, and it must be residential. Renters cannot apply. Lenders will run their normal credit and affordability checks (gov.uk).
Can I use a loan and the heat pump grant together?
Yes. The government says you can combine a loan with the grant of up to £9,000. Its guidance also says you cannot use a loan and other government funding to pay for "the same improvement", so ask your lender and installer how they will set out the grant and the loan on your quote.
Where do I apply?
To one of the ten participating lenders listed on gov.uk, through an installer or retailer that offers one of these loans, or through your mortgage provider. You do not apply to the government.
Is a loan right for me?
It is still borrowing, so take your time. Look at the total amount you will repay, not just the monthly payment, along with the loan length and any fees. Some lenders only work with particular installers, so check whether you can choose your own. The installer must be Microgeneration Certification Scheme certified.
Does the Budget change anything for me?
Indirectly. Electricity you buy has no VAT until 1 July 2027, and no new policy costs will be added to bills until 2027. The Budget does not change export payments (the Smart Export Guarantee) or Feed-in Tariff payments.
Can I use a loan to add a battery to my existing solar?
Yes, a battery on its own is one of the upgrades the loans cover, up to £15,000.
Is there help with insulation or heating upgrades?
The Warm Homes: Local Grant for low-income homes in East Sussex has already allocated its current funding, but call the Warm Home Check service (0800 464 7307) to see what other support you can get. The Budget says most of the government's funding for low-income homes, delivered by councils, is protected.
What about help with my bill?
The Warm Home Discount is a £150 discount on your electricity bill, usually applied automatically if you are eligible (gov.uk). The Budget also announces a one-off energy debt relief scheme for eligible households, to launch next year. Who qualifies has not been published yet.
Is there funding for community energy?
The Great British Energy Community Fund for the South East closes on 12 November 2026, for incorporated community organisations looking at projects such as solar on a village building. The government has also appointed Andrew Pakes MP as its Co-operatives and Mutuals Champion, to represent co-operatives inside government.
Does the Budget affect me?
The Budget confirms a new pay-per-mile charge for electric and plug-in hybrid cars from April 2028, as first announced in 2025. It also publishes a review of the cost of public charging, with steps to lower the cost of slower public chargers.
We will update you as each of these is published.
Everyone
Heating with oil or LPG
Thinking about solar, a battery or a heat pump
Finding bills hard to manage
Prefer to talk it through?
Come to our free drop-in on Saturday 21 November at the Rose Room, Forest Row Community Centre, alongside the Repair Cafe. Bring your bill, a quote, or any question on your mind.