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University life can be pricey, and students get discounts on all kinds of stuff, so obviously you might wonder whether there's a student discount on household bills.

The answer? Yes and no.

If you’re a full-time student, you’re exempt from council tax, which can save you hundreds of pounds a year. But when it comes to gas, electricity, broadband, and water, there’s no automatic “student ID” discount. Energy suppliers don’t lower your rates just because you’re at uni, and prices are still influenced by the Energy Price Cap set by Ofgem.

Student accommodation, food, and transport already add up quickly, and energy bills on top can make shared house budgeting even more stressful.

The good news is that while there’s no blanket student discount for utilities, there are ways to reduce what you pay. In this guide, we’ll cover:

  • The one major exemption students can claim
  • Whether any hidden support or “social tariffs” apply
  • Practical ways to lower your usage and save money at uni
  • How services like Fused Bills can simplify everything into one manageable monthly payment

Plus, if you do choose to set up a bills package with Fused, you can use code STUCASHBK25 to get £25 cashback after your cooling-off period ends (14 days after your contract starts. Contracts begin on your tenancy start date, not the day you sign up).

The £25 is paid to the person who sets up the account, so if you’re the one organising everything, you’ll get £25 back once it’s live. Money towards the housewarming, maybe?

Keep reading fort other ways to get a discount on your student bills.

Understanding student council tax exemption (student win!) 🥳

If there’s one genuine “student discount” on household bills, then it’s council tax exemption.

You qualify for exemption if:

  • Your course lasts at least one academic year
  • You study 21 hours or more per week
  • Your course runs for at least 24 weeks of the year

This applies to undergraduate and most postgraduate students as long as you’re officially classed as full-time by your university.

If everyone living in the property is a full-time student, your household is fully exempt.

If only one non-student lives with you, they can usually claim a 25% single-person discount. And if there are two or more non-students, the property is fully liable for council tax.

How to claim your exemption (It’s not automatic)

Council tax exemption doesn’t usually happen on its own. You need to confirm your student status.

Here’s what to do:

  1. Log into your university portal and download your Student Status Certificate (sometimes called a Council Tax Exemption Certificate).
  2. Send this to your local council via their website (find your council on the GOV.UK website)
  3. Wait for written confirmation that your exemption has been applied.

If you don’t claim exemption, you’ll still get a bill (and it’ll take longer to get sorted).

Energy and gas: why there’s no “student rate” (and what to do instead)

There is no special energy tariff for students. All energy suppliers charge you based on:

  • How much energy you use (measured in kWh)
  • Your unit rate and standing charge
  • The type of tariff you’re on

The price on standard variable tariffs is set by The Energy Price Cap. Remember: this caps what you pay price per unit and standing charge, not the total bill. The more energy you use, the more you pay.

The “hidden” help students often miss

While there’s no student rate, there is support available if you’re struggling. You need to apply for all of these funds, so they may ask for supporting information, and the help is not guaranteed.

Two key schemes to know about:

1. Energy supplier hardship funds

Many major energy providers run their own hardship or benevolent funds. If you fall into arrears or can’t afford repayments, you may be able to apply for grants to clear or reduce debt.

2. University hardship funds

Most universities offer their own financial support schemes for students facing unexpected financial problems. These can sometimes help with essential living costs, including rent and utility bills. They’re typically means-tested and require an application.

3. Household Support Fund (England only)

The Household Support Fund is run by local councils in England. It can provide help with energy bills, food and essential costs. Students can apply in some circumstances, especially if they’re facing financial hardship.

All of these schemes are designed as safety nets, not long-term solutions.

So, while there are no discounts for student utility bills, you can still bring your costs down by being careful with how much energy you use. OR investing in Unlimited Energy for peace of mind about your energy costs.

Here are a few realistic ways students can cut energy usage:

Be smart with heating

Heating is usually the biggest part of a student house energy bill, so this is where the biggest savings can be made. For example, lowering the thermostat by just 1°C can reduce overall heating costs by up to 10%.

The World Health Organisation recommends a minimum temperature of 18c to stay healthy. Being cold can affect your brain function and health, so being too stringent with heating is a false economy!

Take shorter showers

Hot water costs money, especially in shared houses where everyone showers daily. Cutting your shower time by a few minutes genuinely reduces both water and energy usage.

Investing in water-saving gadgets like low-flow showerheads can make a big difference to your usage as well. Heating water is the second biggest use of energy at home, and these are an easy way to use less energy AND less water.

Turn off devices

While appliances left on standby don’t technically use that much energy, it’s still worth making sure you’ve turned everything off before you leave the house. Electric heaters and heated clothes airers are both commonly left on for long periods of time, and might end up boosting your bill.

Since there’s no direct discount for students, the only way to reduce your student energy bill is to use less gas and electricity. Get more tips from our guide to save energy.

Do major energy suppliers offer a student discount? 🔥

No. British Gas, Scottish Power and other major suppliers do not offer a percentage-off discount just because you’re a student.

What about Octopus Energy?

Octopus Energy is often associated with competitive pricing and strong customer service. They don’t offer a specific “student rate” either, but they do have a £50 referral scheme when you sign up with them directly.

Discounts on bills packages

Fused works with supplier partners including Octopus Energy and British Gas, but when you sign up to a Fused bills package, you don’t choose the individual supplier. You choose the contract type.

Bundle your energy bills with your choice of broadband, water and TV licence and TV package into one simple monthly payment, split equally between housemates. You can even get unlimited energy, so you don’t need to worry about how much it costs to keep your student house warm in winter.

While you can’t always get supplier offers via Fused, you can get £25 cashback with a Fused bills package. Use code STUCASHBK25 and you’ll get £25 after your cooling off period (14 days after your contract starts, which will be your tenancy start date).

What about broadband student deals? 🛜

Some broadband providers do offer student ‘deals’ but this is less about price than contract length. Standard broadband contracts last 18–24 months, meaning students would have to pay an exit fee to get out of the payments at the end of the academic year.

Virgin Media, Sky and BT are all among providers offering student broadband contracts.

If you choose a Fused package, you can customise your broadband to the length of your tenancy, so you’re not paying for broadband in months you won’t use it, and you only have one monthly payment for all of your bills.

Water bills: meters, exemptions and capped schemes 💧

You already know you can roll your water bill into a monthly bills package with Fused. Let’s look at how water bills work, and whether you’ll even need to pay them!

Scotland vs. England and Wales

In Scotland, water charges are usually included as part of council tax. That means if you’re fully exempt from council tax as a student, you’re generally exempt from water charges too.

In England and Wales, you’ll still need to pay for water.

Rateable value vs. water meter: why it matters

In England and Wales, your water bill is usually charged in one of two ways:

1. Water meter (usage-based)

You have a water meter in your home, and you pay for exactly what your household uses.

2. Rateable value (property-based)

You pay based on the historic value of the property, not how much water you actually use.

Many older student houses are still on rateable value billing. That can be expensive, especially if there aren’t many of you living there and you don’t use much water.

If you’re in a small household (for example, two people in a large older house), it may be worth asking the landlord whether a water meter can be installed.

The WaterSure scheme

WaterSure is designed for households on certain benefits who either:

  • Have a medical condition requiring high water usage, or

  • Have three or more children under 19 living at home

If eligible, your water bill is capped, so you won’t pay more than the average bill for your area, even if you use more water than average. For students with qualifying medical conditions, this can effectively act as a discount and provide cost certainty.

You’ll need to apply directly through your water supplier and strict eligibility rules apply. You can find your water supplier at Water UK.

TV Licence 📺

You need a TV licence if you watch or record TV as it is broadcast (on any channel), or use BBC iPlayer. You don’t need one just for streaming platforms like Netflix or Disney+.

If you buy a full 12-month licence for your student house but move home for summer, you can claim a refund for the unused three months, as long as the licence is no longer needed at the property.

How bill packages can save you money

Managing bills yourself might seem cheaper, but in shared houses, it often causesdisputes.

When you split bills manually, sometimes people forget to pay or bills get missed. That can mean late fees even credit score damage. If you’re planning to manage everything yourselves, make sure you understand how it works.

Fixed costs = easier budgeting

With a Fused bills package, you pay one easy bill each month instead of juggling separate payments, or worrying about the cost of heating your uni house.

You won’t have to chase housemates, be owed money, or worry about missed bills impacting your credit score. It’s not a percentage discount, but it saves you time and stress.

Getting a discount on student bills

So, can you get a discount on student bills?

Not in the traditional sense, but you can make some savings if you’re smart.

  • Make sure you’re mindful of energy use (if you don’t go for an unlimited deal)
  • Choose the broadband speed you actually need rather than just going for the highest bandwidth

There’s no universal “student rate” for gas, electricity or water. Suppliers charge based on usage, and the Energy Price Cap set by Ofgem applies to everyone. The one major guaranteed saving is council tax exemption (and water for students in Scotland), and beyond that, it’s about being careful with your usage.

You and your housemates will save the most if you claim the exemptions you’re entitled to, understand support schemes if you need them and reduce your energy usage.

Predictability helps with budgeting, so you can simplify everything into one fixed monthly payment, a bills package.

Plus, if you do choose to set up a bills package with Fused, use code STUCASHBK25 when signing up to receive £25 cashback after your cooling-off period ends (14 days after your contract starts, contracts begin on your tenancy start date, not the day you sign up).

The £25 is paid to the person who sets up the account, so if you’re the one organising everything, you’ll get £25 back once it’s live.

There may not be a magic student discount on every bill, but with the right setup, you can still keep costs under control.