OREANDA-NEWS. Leading UK energy supplier SSE is providing GBP 12 million of support to its most vulnerable customers to help with their energy bills.

The company has identified those most in need and will be applying credits to customers’ accounts automatically without the need for them to get in touch or apply.

SSE has begun advising customers of the payments and will be contacting other eligible households over the coming months to make them aware of the support being provided.

The ?12m pot is being funded by redirecting money left behind for up to seven years by former customers who may have moved, cancelled direct debits and failed to provide forwarding addresses.  SSE has worked hard to locate these customers for a number of years to refund the money, including using search agencies and checking against new customer accounts as well as through media and marketing campaigns, but to no avail.

Instead of the money lying dormant, SSE will now redirect it to support those most in need, but former customers will still be able to claim back any credit they may have left if they come forward at any point.

Stephen Forbes, Director of Domestic Retail, said:  “At SSE we have always taken our responsibility to our customers very seriously. We know that some customers, for a variety of reasons, may have difficulty with their bills which is why we are providing debt assistance to tens of thousands of customers this year alone.

“We’ve always been sympathetic to this and already have a number of initiatives in place to help customers manage their bills, including our Priority Assistance Fund, benefit entitlement checks and tailored payment plans.

“But we want to do more and we hope that this additional funding will make a difference for customers by freeing them up from energy debt and helping them start afresh.”

SSE will also continue with it’s other support programmes which include benefit entitlement checks for customers, industry wide debt advice support, support for initiatives providing energy advice and assistance to isolated customers on the Western Isles and ongoing support and debt assistance for vulnerable customers.