Citizens Advice and EDF Help Households Tackle Debt, Increase Income and Cut Energy Costs

Citizens Advice and EDF Help Households Tackle Debt, Increase Income and Cut Energy Costs

(IN BRIEF) EDF and Citizens Advice have helped customers secure more than £10 million in financial benefits over the past year, marking the most successful year of their 17-year partnership. The support included £2.35 million in debt write-offs through Debt Relief Orders, bankruptcy arrangements and EDF’s Customer Support Fund, while nearly 5,000 customers received debt advice. The partnership also helped households unlock almost £7.85 million in additional income through benefit entitlement checks and claims support. In addition, more than 7,300 customers received energy efficiency advice, leading to estimated annual savings of more than £2.19 million.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 10-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — EDF and Citizens Advice have delivered their most successful year of customer support since their partnership began 17 years ago, helping households secure more than £10 million in financial benefits.

The support was delivered through debt write-offs, income maximisation, energy-saving advice and wider practical assistance for customers facing financial hardship.

Over the past year, the partnership helped customers gain greater control over their household finances through independent advice and targeted support.

Debt management remained a major focus.

Through the partnership, Citizens Advice Plymouth supported EDF customers across the UK who were carrying more than £4 million in debt, including substantial levels of fuel debt.

A total of £2.35 million was written off by helping customers access Debt Relief Orders, bankruptcy arrangements and EDF’s Customer Support Fund.

In addition, almost 5,000 customers received debt advice, giving them practical tools to manage repayments and take steps toward a more stable financial position.

The impact of the partnership is reflected in the experience of customers such as Lorraine, who was facing rising household costs and debt pressures.

Citizens Advice helped secure more than £6,900 in debt write-offs for her, including council tax arrears and TV Licensing fines.

The organisation also helped put a sustainable plan in place for managing ongoing energy costs with EDF.

Lorraine said the support had lifted a significant burden, helping her sleep better and think more clearly about her next steps, including engaging with ongoing assistance.

The partnership also helped customers secure almost £7.85 million in additional income through benefit entitlement checks and support with claims.

For many households, this extra income has provided important financial stability and helped them manage the continuing pressure of everyday costs.

Daniel Peters, Senior Operations Manager at Citizens Advice Plymouth, said the organisation is proud of what the partnership has achieved over the past year.

He said energy debt is often only one part of a wider picture, with many customers also affected by low income, poor health or other financial pressures.

Peters added that working closely with EDF allows Citizens Advice to help customers address energy debt alongside the wider challenges affecting their lives.

Marie Cox, Vulnerable Customers Process Owner at EDF, said financial hardship is rarely caused by a single issue.

She said customers are often worried about debt while also struggling with everyday costs and uncertainty about where to seek advice.

Cox added that the partnership with Citizens Advice enables EDF to provide joined-up support that addresses these challenges together, giving customers practical solutions that can make a lasting difference to their finances and wellbeing.

Alongside financial support, the partnership also delivered energy efficiency advice to more than 7,300 customers.

This support is estimated to have generated annual savings of more than £2.19 million.

By helping customers reduce energy use and lower bills, EDF and Citizens Advice said the partnership is delivering immediate financial benefits while also encouraging longer-term behaviour change.

Through its record year of support, the partnership has strengthened its role in helping vulnerable and financially pressured households manage debt, increase income, reduce energy costs and improve overall financial resilience.

About EDF

EDF is driving the transition towards An Electric Britain – a secure, affordable, low-carbon future for everyone. As Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, we are investing more than £100 million weekly in Britain’s electricity infrastructure. We supply millions of customers with electricity and help homes and businesses switch to electricity for heating, transport and industrial processes.

We operate five nuclear power stations and more than 35 onshore wind farms and three offshore wind farms. Since 2009, EDF has invested almost £9 billion in the nuclear fleet to improve reliability and extend station lifetimes. The five generating stations currently supply about 12% of the UK’s electricity demand.

EDF is building the UK’s nuclear renaissance with the construction of a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C. We are a minority investor (12.5%) in and major supplier to a replica plant at Sizewell C in Suffolk. Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C will provide low carbon electricity to meet 14% of UK demand and power around 12 million homes. EDF Group companies Framatome and Arabelle Solutions have a presence in the UK and manufacture critical equipment such as reactor pressure vessels and turbines.

EDF is enabling its 5 million customers, both in business and at home, to choose electric solutions that save cash and carbon, whether it is buying an electric car, generating and storing electricity, selling energy back to the grid or installing solar panels or a heat pump. In 2025, EDF’s Customers business was ranked as one of the Sunday Times’s Best Place to Work.

It is also one of the UK’s leading developers of renewable energy through EDF power solutions UK and Ireland. We have more than 2GW of renewable generation in operation and over 10GW in construction, planning and development across a range of technologies including onshore and offshore wind, solar and battery storage.

We are one of the largest suppliers to British business and a leading supplier of innovative energy solutions that are helping businesses become more energy independent. In addition, the company’s energy services business, Dalkia, is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest technical service providers.

Media Contact:

media@edfenergy.com

SOURCE: EDF