[meldrewreborn]

The picture is rather confusing. see this table in the first instance:

Supplier	Monthly direct debit	Standard credit	Smart prepayment meter	Traditional prepayment meter
British Gas	Credited to your bank account	Credited to your energy account	Awaiting response	Awaiting response
Bulb	Direct debit reduction	Credited to your energy account	Credited to electricity account – though plans to allow users to switch it to gas accounts	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity
E.on/E.on Next	Direct debit reduction	Credited to your energy account	Credited to gas and electricity accounts (split evenly)	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity
EDF Energy	Credited to your bank account	Credited to your energy account	Awaiting response	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity
Octopus Energy	Plans to confirm in September	Plans to confirm in September	Plans to confirm in September	Plans to confirm in September
Ovo Energy	Credited to your bank account	Credited to your energy account	Credited to electricity account	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity
Scottish Power	Credited to your bank account	Awaiting response	Credited to electricity account	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity
Shell Energy	Direct debit reduction	Credited to your energy account	Credited to gas and electricity accounts (split evenly)	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity
So Energy	Direct debit reduction	Credited to your energy account	Credited to electricity account	N/A
SSE	Credited to your bank account	Credited to your energy account	Credited to electricity account	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity
Utility Warehouse	Direct debit reduction	Credited to your energy account	Credited to electricity account	Voucher to be used on gas or electricity

[Andy65]

Why do I keep thinking of a brewery!

I made a point about the FAQs that were posted on here regarding the question that why couldn't a customer have the £400 paid to them directly, the answer was that it had to be used to pay for energy. The fact that the intention is to reduce a DD by the £66/67 is doing just that, paying the money direct to the customer.

I can only comment about monthly DD but looking at the list all suppliers are doing the same thing for Monthly DD, crediting the customers bank account either by paying it back direct or reducing their DD and crediting their energy account. I assume the difference in methods may be down to the easiest way for them to do it.

Why on earth they don't just pay the £66/67 as an extra payment to everyones' electricity account is beyond me, I though the whole idea was that it was to help with energy bills. You can't get any simpler than that.

[UKDave51]

I pay £55 DD currently so can I assume i will be £11/12 in credit every month providing I don`t use more than that?

[meldrewreborn]

@UKDave51

Basically yes but it seems to be a different method of receiving the government assistance wherever you look. It'll all come out in the wash.

[Cotters]

Surely a reduction in your direct debit is no help unless they credit your account with your "full / usual" direct debit amount? Can anyone explain as Eon don't seem able to answer that question!

[JoeSoap]

@Cotters

Your DD will be reduced by £66/67 but your payment to your account will be topped-up by the same amount by the government. Effectively, the payment to Eon Next will be the same but you will be better off by £66/67 in the six months the subsidy applies for.