Business · Energy & Commodities · 18 hrs ago
Octopus Energy gives out free electric blankets to vulnerable customers
Octopus Energy is giving free electric blankets to customers who may struggle to stay warm this autumn and winter.
The company says it has distributed more than 110,000 blankets so far, prioritising people whose health makes them more vulnerable to cold.
It says the blankets cost about 2–4 pence an hour to run.
Octopus has also increased its hardship fund by 50%, to £60 million in support.
That support includes writing off debt and matching some customer payments.
The company also offers one-to-one help through an in-house social worker team.
Smart meter users can earn rewards through sessions that encourage them to shift or reduce electricity use, but the company has not said how many more blankets it plans to distribute.
Octopus Energy has distributed more than 110,000 free electric blankets to vulnerable customers.
The company is prioritising customers whose health puts them at greater risk from the cold.
The blankets cost 2–4p an hour to run, according to the report.
Octopus has increased its Octo Assist hardship fund by 50%, to £60 million in support.
Support includes debt write-offs and payment-matching schemes.
- Who
- Octopus Energy.
- What
- It is giving free electric blankets to vulnerable customers and offering other forms of support.
- When
- This autumn and winter. The article was published on 11 October 2026.
- Where
- The UK.
- Why
- To help households cope with high energy bills and help vulnerable customers stay warm.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Our specialists carry out 400 interactions each month, providing invaluable one-to-one support that goes far beyond energy bills
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Blankets distributed
- More than 110,000
- Running cost
- 2–4p an hour
- Octo Assist fund increase
- 50%
- Octo Assist support
- £60 million
- Specialist interactions
- 400 each month
Sources
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