OVO and Octopus energy customers being sent freebies which could help cut bills by £150

Octopus Energy and OVO Energy are launching their own schemes to help keep Brits warm this winter, with electric blankets among the free items available to customers

Two energy providers are handing out free electric blankets which could knock as much as £150 off your bills.

Octopus Energy and OVO Energy have both launched separate schemes aimed at 'heating the human, not the home'. Octopus say they will distribute 20,000 electric blankets from Dreamland to its most vulnerable customers, allowing them to stay cosy during colder periods without having to increase their heating. Amid rising energy bills and changes in eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments, the company said this can help keep households warm for just 'as little as 3p an hour'.

Meanwhile, OVO Energy has announced a £50million Extra Support Package that comes with complimentary energy-conserving items, such as electric throws and mattress toppers. Commenting on the measures, Mario Lupori, director at Octopus Energy Group, said: "We know many people are worried about the costs of heating their homes over winter. An electric blanket means you heat the human, not the home - staying warm for as little as 3p an hour."

According to Octopus, this initiative has resulted in bills being cut for customers before, with past participants seeing their gas bill fall by 20% and saving them an average of £150 during the winter season, reports Birmingham Live. OVO announced that its fund is set to launch on October 1, coinciding with the 10% price cap rise from Ofgem. CEO David Buttress said: "We know it's on us to ensure our customers are supported through the winter months. That's why our winter support scheme is bigger than ever this year with £50million of funds."

"But this isn't a long-term solution. We need to make the energy system work better for everyone. That starts with targeted support in the form of a social tariff so we're not plugging the gaps no one can be, or no one needs to be left behind."

The Ofgem Energy Price Cap, which sets the maximum amount that suppliers can charge for each unit of energy used in Great Britain, goes up on October 1. This is around a 10% rise on the previous price cap, and will add an extra £12 to the average monthly bill or £150 a year, according to the energy regulator.