OVO Energy is handing rechargeable hot water bottles to UK households from Monday, November 2, to help stay warm this winter as energy bills soar.

The energy supplier has today, October 27, opened a new Extra Support Package to help its most vulnerable customers save up to £300 per year on their energy. The package is tailored to individual needs, offering crucial help ranging from free energy-saving appliances to direct financial support to those who need it most this winter and beyond. A 4% hike to Ofgem’s energy price cap took effect from October 1 and forecasters are warning household bills could soar by more than £300 from January.

A survey by Uswitch found that around 1.7 million households won’t turn their heating on this winter over fears of rising bills and efforts to save money, with half (50% of homes planning to turn to alternatives such as extra layers, hot water bottles and heated blankets to stay warm instead. And some households may be eligible to get such energy saving products for free this winter through OVO’s extra support package.

Free rechargeable hot water bottles are among the energy saving and warming products up for grabs from OVO this winter to help households save money and fend off the cold.

Rechargeable hot water bottles work by using an internal electrical heating element and a built-in thermostat to heat the liquid or conductive granules stored inside, removing the need to manually boil a kettle and refill it with water with each use.

Using a rechargeable hot water bottle is a much cheaper alternative to running the central heating, as you only need it to heat yourself, rather than your entire home.

Applications for a free hot water bottle from OVO will open on Monday, November 2, but these will be subject to availability. Households can check their eligibility for energy saving support via the OVO website.

Other free energy saving products up for grabs through the support package include thermos flasks, heat pads, LED light bulbs, smart plugs, replacement white goods and heated throws, which cost approximately 3p per hour to run.

OVO said: “If you think you’ll struggle to pay your bills and you’re an OVO customer, then you might be eligible. It doesn’t take long to apply for support and you’ll get your answer right away.

“When you apply for support, things like household income, any disposable income, and medical needs will be taken into account – to help prioritise those who need help most.

“We won’t be able to offer everything to everyone – but we’re hoping to help as many people as possible. Our specialist teams will be available to speak to any of our customers who are worried about energy costs.”

The free energy saving products come as part of a wider package of support which also includes a £150 Warm Homes Discount, debt relief, debt advice and access to support from 2,500 organisations through Lightning Reach.

Rhiannon Sheridan, CEO at Lightning Reach, added: “Too many people miss out on help simply because it's hard to find, and harder to apply for. OVOs Extra Support package brings a full range of support into one place. Together, we can make sure people get all the help they need, with one simple application.”