OVO in the Community: Inverness event helps residents save up to £300

• The latest OVO in the Community event will be held in Inverness on Thursday 4th December at Merkinch Community Centre. 
• The event will provide energy-saving advice and free energy saving products, which could save households an average of £300 per year.
• Last year, OVO assisted more than 42,000 customers, offering advice and energy saving products such as heated blankets, smart sockets, and efficiency kits.

3rd December 2025: This Thursday, Merkinch Community Centre in Inverness will open its doors to the public between 1 and 4pm to offer residents support from experts on how to save money on energy bills and improve energy efficiency.

At the community event in Inverness, residents will be able to speak to OVO’s specialist advisors – regardless of whether they’re an OVO customer or not – as well as energy experts about simple ways to reduce their energy consumption. Advisors will also be handing out free electric throws, lightbulbs and solar battery packs, and providing energy-efficiency guidance which on average could save families up to £300 per year. 

Charities including Samaritans, Income Max, and Warm Welcome will also be on hand to provide support and debt advice for anyone struggling or worried about paying their bills. 

The OVO in the Community event series was launched in response to the cost-of-living crisis, and as part of OVO’s £56 million Extra Support Package. The event aims to bring communities together at the coldest time of year and provide tangible support for those that need it most. 

Steve Donovan, Vulnerable Customer Lead, at OVO, said: “We know that people are worried about their energy bills this winter, and OVO in the Community events are designed to provide support to those who need it most. We encourage people to come along, ask questions and speak to our experts.”

OVO has provided £190m in support since 2022, offering measures such as heated blankets, smart sockets, and efficiency kits, and assisted 42,000 customers last year. 

OVO’s customer support package includes:

• Free energy saving products: This includes electric throws, smart sockets, and home efficiency kits.
• Energy efficiency upgrades: Customers could receive a wide range of energy-saving measures installed through GBIS – from loft insulation to a new boiler, or even high-end tech like heat pumps. Eligible customers could get a whole package installed, all for free.
• Financial support: This includes Direct Debit reductions, emergency credit top-ups, and extended repayment plans.
• New partnerships and increased financial relief for customers: alongside help for organisations including Warm Welcome Campaign and StepChange.
• Dedicated support: in the most financial difficulty will receive help from a specialist team.

OVO is also calling for a social tariff to protect those who cannot afford to heat their homes through the sustained period of high prices to come.

A new report by the Green Alliance shows a social tariff offering discounted energy bills to low-income households would lift more people out of poverty than the government’s Warm Home Discount did in 2024. There is strong public support for the introduction of a social tariff, with two thirds (67%) of people in support. Over three quarters (77%) of people believe it would positively impact the most vulnerable households and half (53%) believe it would make a considerable difference to them personally or people they know.