Warm Home Discount and Pylon Bill Discount 2026/27

Warm Home Discount and Pylon Bill Discount: 2026/27 Update

The £150 Warm Home Discount returns for winter 2026/27, and homes near new pylons could get up to £250 a year from 2027. Who qualifies and what to do now.

Margaux CarluerCo-Founder & CFO/CCOPublished 16 January 2026Updated 21 October 20264 min read

Applies to: Households in England, Wales and Scotland on qualifying means-tested benefits; Households near new or significantly upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales

Quick answer

For winter 2026/27 the Warm Home Discount is £150 off electricity for eligible households in England, Wales and Scotland, based on circumstances on 23 August 2026. Separately, homes within 500 metres of eligible new or significantly upgraded transmission infrastructure, such as pylons, can get up to £250 a year for up to 10 years, with payments expected from 2027.

Two government discounts can cut electricity bills. For winter 2026/27, the Warm Home Discount takes £150 off electricity for eligible households in England, Wales and Scotland, based on their circumstances on 23 August 2026. Separately, the new Bill Discount Scheme will give eligible homes near new or significantly upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure, such as pylons, up to £250 a year for up to 10 years, with payments expected in 2027. Facts below were checked on 13 October 2026 against GOV.UK, Ofgem and Citizens Advice.

What is the Warm Home Discount for winter 2026/27?

Rule	Winter 2026/27 position
Amount	A one-off £150 discount on your electricity bill, applied by your supplier
Qualifying date	23 August 2026
England and Wales	Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit; your name or your partner's on the electricity bill; and a supplier in the scheme
Scotland	A core group gets it automatically; others apply directly to their supplier
Timing	GOV.UK says letters go out between late October 2026 and early January 2027, and your electricity supplier applies the discount by 31 March 2027
Suppliers	Suppliers with over 1,000 customers must take part, and smaller ones can choose to; GOV.UK lists 24 for winter 2026/27
Northern Ireland	Not available

Sources: GOV.UK, Ofgem and Citizens Advice.

You will usually get the discount automatically. If you switched supplier or moved home after 23 August 2026, the supplier you had on that date is the one to contact; our guide to the Warm Home Discount after moving or switching explains why.

What is the pylon Bill Discount Scheme?

It is a scheme for communities that host new electricity transmission infrastructure. On 12 August 2026, GOV.UK published an initial list of expected eligible projects, and Ofgem confirmed it will run the scheme for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

Who: households within 500 metres of new or significantly upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure, according to GOV.UK.
How much: GOV.UK says £250 a year off electricity bills for 10 years; Ofgem describes discounts of up to £250 a year for up to 10 years. Treat £250 as the most you can expect each year.
Where: the first wave of projects is across England, Scotland and Wales, and more projects will be added as the scheme progresses.
When: the government is working to have the rules in place before the end of 2026. GOV.UK says eligibility will start being confirmed in the first half of 2027 for projects where construction has started, and payments are expected to start in the first half of 2027. Ofgem says first payments are due in early 2027.
How: most eligible households will get the discount automatically. Ofgem says you do not need to do anything at this stage, and eligible households will be contacted.

Ofgem's consultation on how it will run the scheme closed on 8 September 2026.

Who is affected?

Households in England, Wales and Scotland on a qualifying means-tested benefit, for the Warm Home Discount.
Households close to new or significantly upgraded transmission lines and other qualifying infrastructure, for the Bill Discount Scheme.
Neither discount changes your tariff. Your unit rates and standing charges still follow your contract or the price cap.

What can you do now?

Watch for a Warm Home Discount letter this autumn, and keep it until the £150 arrives.
Check that your supplier is on the GOV.UK list of participating suppliers.
If you live near a planned transmission project, check the GOV.UK project list, but you do not need to apply.
For every other winter scheme, including Cold Weather Payments and council crisis funds, see our winter energy bill help hub.

Where Taupia fits

Taupia does not apply for discounts, benefits or grants for anyone. It monitors your energy bills, compares tariffs against your own usage and switches only once you approve. It is free, and it never guarantees a saving.

Key takeaways

The Warm Home Discount is £150 off electricity for winter 2026/27, based on your circumstances on 23 August 2026.
Citizens Advice says the discount is paid by 31 March 2027, and most eligible households get it automatically.
The Bill Discount Scheme gives eligible homes within 500 metres of new or significantly upgraded transmission infrastructure up to £250 a year for up to 10 years.
First pylon discount payments are expected in 2027, and households do not need to do anything yet.

Frequently asked questions

Am I eligible for the Warm Home Discount in winter 2026/27?

In England and Wales you need, on 23 August 2026, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit, your name or your partner's on the electricity bill, and a supplier in the scheme. In Scotland a core group gets it automatically and others apply to their supplier.

When is the Warm Home Discount paid?

GOV.UK says letters go out between late October 2026 and early January 2027, and your electricity supplier applies the discount by 31 March 2027. Most eligible households get it automatically as a credit on their electricity account.

What is the pylon Bill Discount Scheme?

A scheme for homes near new or significantly upgraded electricity transmission infrastructure, such as pylons. GOV.UK says eligible households within 500 metres will get £250 a year off electricity bills for 10 years, while Ofgem describes it as up to £250 a year for up to 10 years.

Do I need to apply for the pylon discount?

Not at this stage. Ofgem says consumers do not need to take any action and eligible households will be contacted. GOV.UK says most eligible households will get the discount automatically, with payments expected to start in the first half of 2027.

Do all suppliers take part in the Warm Home Discount?

Suppliers with over 1,000 customers must take part, and some smaller suppliers join voluntarily, according to Ofgem. GOV.UK lists 24 participating suppliers for winter 2026/27.