The aftermath of the Budget FOCUS FUEL POVERTY
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE
Welcome to Fuel Poverty Focus Winter 2024 Edition.
Amid the winter, we reflect on some of the challenges our communities are continuing to face going into 2025. After several difficult years, including the energy crisis and COVID-19, vulnerable clients are facing more tough times ahead, with energy debt at record highs and less financial support than ever.
Fuel poverty is not just a challenge of budgets, it’s a human one. It affects families, individuals and communities, often forcing impossible choices between warmth, food and other essentials. Where support exists, it can inadvertently and, against best intentions, be exclusionary for some of the most marginalised consumers in the energy sector. As an advice and campaigning organisation, we feel a distinct responsibility to make sure we refuse to accept the status quo and continue to trial new ways of working to reach those clients and provide support. In this vein,
we reflect here upon our Warming Communities programme.
The programme provided vital lessons for National Energy Action, exciting new partnerships and an essential challenge to some of our assumptions. In this issue, we’ll discuss some of the impact and learnings from the programme, which we’re only just beginning to detangle to share more widely.
You can also find articles on our A Warm Welcome project, what the Autumn Budget means for fuel poor households, our private rented sector fuel poverty conference and several members updates.
One lesson I will take into 2025 and beyond – we have untold resilience and expertise in our communities, ready and waiting to be utilised. It is only incumbent on us to focus on partnership and openness to tap into this and be stronger together.
Molly Chambers
Molly Chambers Project Development Manager National Energy Action
CONTENTS
03: Policy in Focus
An Autumn Budget and the aftermath
04: Conference in Focus
Private rented sector conference and Business Supporter Group meeting
06: Projects in Focus
A Wam Welcome, Gwynedd Fuel Poverty Partnership, Equinox and Warming Communities
10: Members in Focus
Updates from Heat Trust, SHIELD, Warm Wales, Affordable Warmth Solutions, Switch2 and Switchee
15: Events in Focus
Corporate volunteering, a new way to donate to us, Fuel Poverty Awareness Day and join us on our Walk for Warmth
About Fuel Poverty Focus
Fuel Poverty Focus is the quarterly magazine, produced by National Energy Action, for its members. If you have content ideas for next issue and beyond please email focus@nea.org.uk
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An Autumn Budget and the aftermath
Labour’s first Budget brings no relief for fuel poor households this winter – National Energy Action's Head of Policy and Public Affairs Matt Copeland considers what was announced and what more needs to be done
On 30 October, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered her first budget, and the first of this new Labour Government. The budget covered a significant amount of ground, raising the exchequer by a significant amount, for reasons of prudence, through changes to the tax system in order to cover departmental budgets. Part of this prudence meant that there was no space for additional support to help with energy bills this winter. This was very disappointing, and has consequences. National Energy Action had argued that more support would be needed for vulnerable households even before the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment, and increases in energy prices. Now we face a difficult winter, with 6 million fuel poor households being offered little support to help them stay warm.
Hope for long-term
investment
Alongside its prudence, the budget was also notable for its focus on investment. Changes made to government accounting have made investing in infrastructure more attractive for the Treasury. One area where investment has increased is energy efficiency. National Energy Action has consistently advocated for long-term solutions to fuel poverty, including significant investments in energy efficiency and support for low-income households. The budget included a downpayment on Labour’s proposed ‘Warm Homes Programme’. The Party’s manifesto pledged a £13.2bn Warm Homes Programme to upgrade 5 million homes during the parliament and slash fuel poverty. The budget committed the first £3.4bn of this towards local authority and social housing provider-
led energy efficiency schemes, as well as more funding towards the Boiler Upgrade Scheme.
All money to upgrade the energy efficiency of fuel poor homes should be welcomed. And this initial investment means that schemes can start in earnest in April 2025. However, this initial investment is £10bn short of the manifesto commitment. HM Treasury did provide some hope, stating that “further funding over this period will be considered as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review”. This ‘Phase 2’ refers to the Spring Budget of 2025. One of National Energy Action’s most significant priorities is to ensure this manifesto commitment becomes a reality.
A tougher picture
In the aftermath of the budget, two unrelated things have happened. The price of gas has risen due to increased geopolitical tensions. And cold weather has started to hit, with sub-zero temperatures felt around the country, and some experiencing snow. The increase in gas prices has meant that the price cap, previously expected to fall in January, will now see a modest increase. Suppliers have said that they will be providing £500 million of support for their customers this winter. This is welcome but will not be enough to stop people living in cold homes.
This winter will be very difficult for the people we help and fight for. There is no doubt about that. But there is now an opportunity that we have not seen in many years to make serious strides towards significantly reducing fuel poverty through energy efficiency grants. We must make sure that this opportunity is grasped.
Photo: Shutterstock/Sean Aidan Calderbank
Conference shines a light on fuel poverty in the private rented sector
National Energy Action’s Project Development Manager Molly Chambers considers what we learned at our one-day conference, Powering solutions: fuel poverty in the private rented sector
There are approximately 4.6 million privately rented households in England alone, representing nearly a fifth of all housing stock. A quarter of these households are living in fuel poverty (compared with 8.8% of owner-occupied households and 17.3% of social housing tenants). That's why we felt it was so important to focus on the private rented sector in our one-day conference, Powering solutions: fuel poverty in the private rented sector held on 1 October.
Private renters often have little control over the heating systems and energy efficiency measures in their homes, making them especially vulnerable to rising energy prices. As a result, tenants in the least efficient homes in the private rented sector are paying up to £950 more per year for their energy bills.
High energy prices combined with rising rents are having a negative impact on the health, wellbeing and safety of tenants. Recent National Energy Action polling identified a number of coping mechanisms that private tenants are resorting to:
• A third have turned the heating off, despite cold indoor temperatures
• Nearly half had made cuts in other essential areas in order to afford energy bills
• Nearly one in 10 used improvised heating devices such as ovens
We also know that energy inefficient homes are more likely to harbour excessive damp and mould and recent research by Citizens Advice found 70% of private renters have experienced damp and mould in their home.
Thanks to a fantastic range of speakers and 120 attendees on
the day, we were able to: highlight the broad and evolving experience of fuel poverty and vulnerability among private rented sector tenants; understand local authority approaches to ensuring minimum energy efficiency standards are upheld; and recognise the pivotal role landlords play in improving the sector. Roundtable discussions enabled us to better understand:
• How successful current methods to enforce minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) in the private rented sector are proving
• Which tools/mechanisms would enable local authorities to implement existing and future MEES regulations more successfully
• How to ensure landlords are supported to comply with current and proposed future regulations Areas were also identified for improvement, including:
• Vulnerability to poor and precarious housing for low-income and often underserved communities. This can become particularly difficult to address where local authorities are working to meet their duties to provide temporary accommodation
• Greater resources within local authorities when it becomes necessary to follow an enforcement process
• A consistent national approach to landlord registration and enforcement processes, with significant disparities between local authorities at present
• The need to streamline the enforcement process that is currently leaving tenants living in unsuitable housing conditions for long periods after enforcement action is commenced
• The need to boost the training, recruitment and retention of environmental health officers across the country
• Improving current energy efficiency schemes to improve the rate of successful applications by landlords. Currently, there is a significant gap between landlords applying and those who are awarded support under the schemes
Following the success of the event, we will continue to work towards reducing fuel poverty in the private rented sector. Much of this work can be achieved through expanding current MEES legislation and by ensuring a comprehensive suite of renters’ protections within the Renters Rights Bill. This should include a landlord register, protections against no-fault evictions, and mechanisms to prevent unfair rent increases.
Photo: Paul Heyes
Exciting new retrofit projects shared at Business Supporter Group meeting
Several new retrofit projects were shared at National Energy Action’s Business Supporters Group conference in Skipton, alongside discussions around the Autumn Budget and the upcoming Fuel Poverty Strategy
On 31 October, National Energy Action held our Business Supporters Group (BSG) conference in Skipton, hosted by Skipton Building Society. The event brought together a range of attendees from our various member organisations nationwide to discuss their exciting projects and initiatives. The session focused specifically on retrofit initiatives and the recently announced Budget by the new Labour government.
Regent Road Retrofit Project
The first talk of the day was about the Regent Road Retrofit project, led by Skipton Building Society, which will seek to serve as a template for future retrofits in the area. Leeds Beckett University conducted extensive pre-project research, leading to the implementation of appropriate retrofit measures to an energy inefficient property in the area. Skipton Building Society outlined how they have collated feedback throughout the process from contractors, homeowners, and others about their own experiences and challenges of home retrofit which will then help it to improve and shape future initiatives.
Labour government Budget
Adam Scorer, National Energy Action Chief Executive, discussed what the new Budget means for those living in fuel poverty with a focus given to the new means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment and upcoming changes to the Fuel Poverty Strategy. National Energy Action continues to advocate for increased support for those struggling with energy bills, as current measures are not enough to support the worst affected.
Community Retrofit Hub
Funded by Skipton Building Society and led by National Energy Action, this exciting project will see our Community Retrofit Hubs integrate into communities in Sheffield and Burnley, becoming a site of advice and resources for those taking part in the retrofit process, without displacing existing services.
Fuel Poverty Strategy discussion
We were delighted that Amy Chadwick, Policy Lead from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, was able to join the event and led a Q&A session on the government’s Fuel Poverty Strategy. Amy also welcomed feedback from members on their experiences of different schemes to address fuel poverty and updated attendees on the timeline for the new strategy.
Home Energy West Yorkshire Programme
Sophie Brook from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority presented their initiatives, which aim to ensure warm, low-carbon homes in West Yorkshire. The programme will establish a one-stop shop for retrofit advice and support in the area, translating some of the complex terminology and processes for local residents. Sophie also got members thinking with a pen portrait exercise on the best ways to support residents in vulnerable situations.
Following the presentations, members were given the opportunity to provide updates to the group and updates were received from Switchee, Agility Eco and Northern Gas Networks. National Energy
Action holds BSG conferences twice a year, with the next conference due to take place in London in March. BSG members are welcome to attend to share knowledge, best practice and to make new connections. For more information about our upcoming conferences, please contact: brian.heart@nea.org.uk.
Annual conference and exhibition
National Energy Action is looking forward to inviting all our partners and supporters to our Annual Conference and Exhibition in Liverpool at Camp and Furnace from 27-29 January.
We still have tickets available, so if you wish to attend, there is time to book!
We have a full programme on our website www.nea.org.uk/ annual-conference-2025/3/, with a packed agenda of speakers sharing best practice, key initiatives and their views on key issues around fuel poverty. We will also have a full exhibition hall to tour throughout the three days with stand holders representing our Business Supporters Group members who will be showcasing their products and services.
We are delighted to welcome Miatta Fahnbulleh, Minister for Energy Consumers at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Steve Rotheram Mayor of the Liverpool City Region to the event.
Photo:
A Warm Welcome: combating fuel poverty for families with young children
National Energy Action is excited to announce the extension of the delivery of A Warm Welcome, an essential scheme that supports one of the poorest demographics in the UK
Fuel poverty impacts many households, but especially those with young children. A new arrival causes a change in habits and an increase in household energy usage at a time when being able to keep warm and safe at home is critical. For households with additional vulnerabilities such as single parent families, low incomes and health conditions, the risk of fuel poverty linked to a new baby is increased.
A Warm Welcome is a dedicated programme of support funded by Northern Gas Networks and SGN to help increase community resilience within this target audience. The programme centres on three areas of activity to provide this support.
Second, we will administer a crisis fund to support families in need with practical items to either help them to keep warm or reduce their energy costs. In the short time the fund has been open there has been a need for kitchen appliances, clothes airers and warm blankets.
Third, our team will help professionals across the industry support expectant parents and young families by providing ‘Warm Welcome’ training, both in-person and online. This course is suitable for frontline staff and volunteers, focusing on health in the household, carbon monoxide risks, energy saving tips, as well as damp, mould and condensation advice.
A Warm Welcome seeks to partner with local communities, energy providers, and charities to create a network of support for new families.
By prioritising the well-being of children and offering comprehensive support, A Warm Welcome seeks to make a meaningful impact, ensuring no family has to choose between warmth and other essential needs. Together, we can build a future where every child grows up in a warm and healthy home.
If you would like to find out more or are interested in partnering with National Energy Action, please contact: molly.chambers@nea. org.uk or shelly.mcdonald@nea.org.uk
First, the delivery of community advice sessions provides an opportunity to share vital money-saving information and energy tips. We work to find families in the local community who are in or at risk of fuel poverty and help them.
New partnership for area with the highest fuel poverty rates in Wales
National Energy Action Cymru Policy and Campaigns Officer Maisie Chatfield introduces the Gwynedd Fuel Poverty Partnership
In collaboration with Gwynedd Council, National Energy Action Cymru has helped set up a Gwynedd Fuel Poverty Partnership with local community-facing organisations and decision makers.
An area of deprivation and social isolation
Gwynedd has historically the highest rates of fuel poverty in Wales, estimated previously to be almost twice that of the national average. It is an enduring issue, and the region faces several challenges that compound to make the matter worse. Gwynedd is predominantly rural and with limited public transport, so many residents struggle to access services and experience social isolation. Up to half of homes in the area are off-grid and, therefore, subject to fluctuating LPG and oil prices. These homes are also some of the oldest and most inefficient in Wales, with just 25% of dwellings EPC C or above — the lowest percentage for a local authority in Wales and the third lowest across both England
and Wales. The region also faces high energy costs, with North Wales consistently being the second most expensive region in Great Britain. Local organisations working on the ground
To better understand the challenges faced by fuel poor homes in the area and to support them, we supported Gwynedd Council to set up a Gwynedd Fuel Poverty Partnership. A partnership comprised of a dozen local organisations working on the ground to support residents with the local MP, it intends to help co-ordinate local action, keeping them abreast of key developments, build capacity, and provide a platform for further collaboration.
By working with the Partnership, we hope to gain a better insight into the depth of fuel poverty locally, understand how local systems of services help shape successful responses to fuel poverty, and to improve key decision-makers' regional understanding of fuel poverty and enhance policy debate. With the support of our Research Team, we will also be establishing a Citizens’ Panel to recruit a representative group of households living in, or at risk of, fuel poverty to contribute directly to our advocacy efforts.
If your organisation is based in Gwynedd and you would like to find out more, please email maisie.chatfield@nea.org.uk
EQUINOX project heads into winter and third annual trial
The project considers how demand flexibility from domestic heat pumps can help fuel poor households and ensure they are not left behind in the smart energy transition
This winter sees the Equitable Novel Flexibility Exchange (EQUINOX) project, led by National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) heading into its third annual trial. It is exploring how demand flexibility can be unlocked through novel commercial arrangements among domestic consumers using low carbon heating (heat pumps).
Critically, the project is developing understanding of the role of flexibility in electricity network planning and management, as well as network responses to challenges associated with the electrification of heat in the net zero energy transition.
National Energy Action’s Research Team is supporting the project on understanding the consumer experience and particularly that of potentially fuel poor and/or energy vulnerable consumers. Over the last two winter trials, the Research Team has worked with project partners at Guidehouse and the West Midlands Combined Authority to deliver a series of focus groups and interviews to explore households’ experiences of the trial, including impact on comfort and motivations for and ability to offer flexibility. Alongside this, an Equitable Participation Framework has been developed to help guide and inform the trials regarding energy vulnerability factors that influence participation, barriers to unlocking flexibility and what the trials could mean for a wider range of vulnerabilities than those represented in the trials.
Helen Stockton, Head of Research at National Energy Action said: ‘We believe that ensuring households are put at the heart of how we design our energy system is vitally important, not least for the fuel poor and most vulnerable. We are eager to learn from EQUINOX and what it can tell us about demand flexibility in a fair and equitable energy future and how we can support participation and access to benefits for households, while ensuring homes are warm and safe.’
‘EQUINOX events’. Trials have been designed to minimise and monitor any effects on thermal comfort.
Key findings to date include:
1. Heat pump behavioural change provides meaningful demand shifting out of the evening peak period for individual customers.
2. Heat pump flexibility can help to resolve distribution network Constraint Managed Zones (CMZs) when combined with other assets.
3. Minimal impact on thermal comfort was reported by EQUINOX participants, indicating heat pump flexibility can be delivered without households experiencing significant discomfort.
4. External temperature was one of the strongest drivers of demand response.
5. A key driver of demand response was whether a participant’s electricity tariff was already incentivising them to shift load out of the evening peak.
6. Heat pump flexibility is open to all households, including those with potential vulnerabilities. Customers with potential vulnerabilities were not found to differ significantly from other customers in either their demand response or in their event participation rates.
7. Automated control over the heat pump is not necessary for the delivery of flexibility.
8. Demand response opt-in was consistent across several trial design factors e.g., two-hour events across different commercial arrangements, event notice periods, and event times during the evening peak.
We believe that ensuring households are put at the heart of how we design our energy system is vitally important
Vitally, EQUINOX aims to develop solutions that not only meet the needs of all consumers, including those that might be considered in or at risk of fuel poverty, but also establish a nuanced view on access to the benefits of such arrangements and mitigation of any potential associated risks for vulnerable and/or fuel poor consumers.
Key findings from the trials so far
The first and second trials ran over the winters of 2022-23 and 2023-24. These tested innovative systems for rewarding customers for offering flexibility through the reduction or increase of their heat pump temperature for short periods of time during the network’s evening peak demand, known as
This winter, the third and final EQUINOX trial is already underway and building on insights and learnings from trials one and two. Specifically, this winter, the EQUINOX project will examine: longer-term flexibility potential from heat pumps; ‘stacking’ of EQUINOX and other flexibility offerings; varying duration of events; and consumer acceptance of events during the morning peak (previous trials focused on two-hour events in the evening peak (from 4pm).
EQUINOX is a collaboration between lead NGED and Octopus Energy, Sero, ScottishPower, Passiv UK, West Midlands Combined Authority, Welsh Government, National Energy Action, SP Energy Networks, and Guidehouse.
To learn more, read about early results and insights, and view associated webinar content, please visit the project website here: www.nationalgrid.co.uk/projects/equinox-equitablenovel-flexibility-exchange
Warming Communities: reflections on our strengths and areas of greatest need
National Energy Action Project Development Manager Molly Chambers appraises the outcomes of our Warming Communities programme and the lessons learned from it
In evaluating our Warming Communities programme, we celebrate what can be achieved with partnership and innovation in the area of fuel poverty. Warming Communities pursued relationships with organisations across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. These partners helped us develop bespoke responses to fuel poverty within their marginalised consumers, creating more on-the-ground capacity at a local level.
Principles
Warming Communities was a project that sought to:
• Confront biases, unfounded beliefs and assumptions. To do this we had to be open to learning and challenge
existing ways of working.
• Demonstrate that communication should be a tool not a barrier and has to be fluid to the needs of the audience. The best advice in the world can’t be delivered without effective communication.
• Show that the onus is on National Energy Action and partners in this space to be innovative, try new things and continue to push inclusivity. As one partner told us, their clients weren’t ‘hard-to-reach’, we just hadn’t found effective means to reach them yet.
Partners
Through this programme we worked with over 130 organisations across England and Wales to develop bespoke interventions for their clients. These organisations ranged from domestic violence groups, refugee support, BME forums, GRTC organisations and prison leavers, to name but a few. National Energy Action is indebted to these partners who have been vital in sharing their time and expertise with us in the development of this work.
The value in these partnerships, new and strengthened, cannot be overstated. From just one event in Birmingham, through the trusted intermediary, we received over 200 referrals, all requiring translation as English was not their first language. It is likely we wouldn’t have been able to support these clients without first building these trusted relationships.
Learnings
We are still considering the full insights we can take from this programme, but some initial takeaways we have been able to reflect on are:
• Empowering local teams with the information is essential to gain the trust of clients.
• Delivery must be nuanced –for example, there is no point attempting to deliver a full presentation to a digitally excluded group when they
may need a step-by-step guide. Engagement methods must reflect the audience.
• Be prepared with practical, immediate interventions to prove the effectiveness of the programme.
• Make use of technology to streamline support – so much use was made of translating services and support to make sure information reached individuals appropriately.
Many more lessons will come from the programme which will be shared in due course.
Resources
As part of our Warming Communities programme, we knew that our resources would require overview and review to make them more suitable to existing and new audiences. As a team we have been able to reflect on existing resources, amend them for accessibility and use local partners as focus groups. Through this process we were also able to develop new advice assets. Our ‘Moving In/Out Checklist’ and ‘Fuel Debt Factsheet’ being identified as gaps in provision – these were then shared widely with the sector.
Some further exciting new resources are still in development, including a cookery booklet. If you’d be interested in your organisation contributing a recipe to this, please contact molly.chambers@nea.org. uk.
Outcomes
• Over 4,400 clients from the marginalised community groups supported with direct advice and support.
• Over 1,900 clients given bespoke smart meter advice and support in communities.
• 7,300 Winter Warmth Support Packs delivered to fuel poor homes.
• Over 90 clients who are either at end of life or medically dependent on energy supported through direct financial assistance.
• 20,000 advice leaflets delivered directly to local partner organisations
We are very grateful to National Grid for supporting this work. For any more information on the Warming Communities programme or to discuss anything reflected in this article, please contact molly.chambers@nea.org.uk
Consumer champion helps heat networks support customers this winter
Heat Trust shares the findings from its latest Annual Report and considers what has improved and what work still needs to be done in the unregulated heat network sector
In time for this winter, Heat Trust has launched updated guidance on how district and communal heat suppliers can support their customers. Heat Trust is the operator of the only consumer-protection scheme for heat networks and acts as wider consumer champion for the currently unregulated sector. Over half a million GB consumers are estimated to live on communal and district heat networks, of which 85,000 are protected by Heat Trust’s scheme.
Although Heat Trust’s guidance is primarily intended to help its registered heat networks meet its scheme standards, it also represents wider sector best practice. Areas covered by its guidance include:
• Treating heat customers fairly
• Supporting heat customers in vulnerable situations
• Supporting heat customers in payment difficulty
• Switching heat customers to prepayment meters
• Measuring heat customer satisfaction
• Handling heat customer complaints
Its latest guidance comes as Heat Trust’s Annual Report for 2022 and 2023 reports improvements in its registered heat networks’ support for vulnerable customers. Of the consumers on its registered heat networks, 9% are on a Priority Services Register and less than 20% are in more than two months’ heat debt (with 55% of those consumers in debt on a repayment plan).
It also comes as Heat Trust reports that many households on heat networks are paying twice as much for their heat as those with their own gas boiler, due to heat networks’ reliance on commercial energy supplies that aren’t subject to a price cap.
Heat network consumers are also not in scope of the £500 million Winter Support Commitment from the major gas and
electricity suppliers, announced by the government on 20 November. As a non-statutory scheme, Heat Trust itself is unable to regulate prices.
Heat Trust says ‘We’ve worked hard during the energy crisis to ensure that the heat suppliers for our registered heat networks supported those in greatest need. We recognise that this winter will continue to be difficult for many heat network consumers, who are not protected by the Ofgem price cap. Consumers whose heat network is registered with Heat Trust can be confident in receiving best-in-class support from their heat supplier.’
Vulnerability, debt and disconnections
• 9% of domestic consumers were on a Priority Services Register in 2023 (8% in 2022): a doubling from 4% in 2021.
• <8% consumers used a ‘pay as you go’ or prepayment meter (PPM).
• <20% of consumers throughout the period were in heat debt for more than two months.
• 55% of consumers in more than two months’ debt were on a repayment plan at the end of the 2022-23 heating season (up from 36% in 2021-22 and 10% in 2020-21).
• <1% of consumers per year were disconnected due to debt. Far more of these disconnections took place outside the heating season than within it. The rate of disconnections outstripped reconnections when debt was cleared.
Nearly 3,000 households supported across Newport through partnership
Newport City Homes and Warm Wales provides energy advice and vouchers and helps their residents this winter with extensive partnership network
Since 2023, Newport City Homes (NCH) has been working in partnership with Warm Wales on a two-year project to help vulnerable households become warmer, safer, healthier and energy smart. The partnership takes a holistic approach that addresses the interconnected issues of fuel poverty, health inequalities, and overall wellbeing.
NCH has formed partnerships with National Energy Action, Aneurin Bevan Health Board, the local authority, and other local agencies/groups. This has resulted in support being delivered across Newport to those residing in private rented properties, owner-occupied properties, RSLs, and Newport City Homes customers.
The team has attended numerous events across Newport and met with over 2,000 households to promote the project and provide energy advice and support.
Nearly 3,000 households have been supported throughout the energy crisis, with the team providing free energy advice, education and tailored support to those struggling with high energy bills,
energy debt and affordability issues. 1,400 fuel vouchers have been processed to help support those struggling to heat their home and over £750k in estimated energy savings through energy advice and saving tips.
Testimonials from those who have received support:
‘Thank you, I don't know how I would have cleared the debt without your help.’
‘Oh, it’s not often these days you get anything for free thank you so much hopefully my bills will decrease now.’ (power down device packs received)
‘After receiving support from energy coach, my gas was uncapped and I can heat my home for the winter.’
'I really appreciate you taking time to sort out my tariff today - it’s just nice to have someone to see and have a chat too you made a lonely lady very happy, thank you.’
New project provides free low-carbon technology to social tenants
UK Power Networks and Power Circle leads a programme of using new low-carbon technology to cut energy bills in low-income households
In a move to combat fuel poverty, a new project by electricity distribution company UK Power Networks is bringing energy solutions to low-income and vulnerable households.
SHIELD (Smart Heat and Intelligent Energy in Low-Income Districts) is providing access to cutting-edge technology that would normally cost thousands to eligible tenants at no cost. The trial is empowering customers to generate their own electricity, store it and reduce their heating costs.
SHIELD was created by the social enterprise Power Circle Projects and is led by UK Power Networks. Other project partners include Essex County Council, Essex Community Energy, Citizens Advice, Eastlight Community Homes, Thermify, UrbanChain, Electricity North West, and UK Community Works. How does it work?
SHIELD works by installing low-carbon technologies such as solar panels, battery storage and cloud data centres in people’s homes. The latter innovation is being dubbed the ‘HeatHub’. This system captures waste heat generated by data centre processing and stores it for later use in homes, providing customers with central heating at a fraction of the typical cost.
Low-income households can expect to cut their energy bills by at least 40% - in some cases a lot more. Crucially, the heat is supplied with a fixed low monthly charge - there is no charge for how much heat is used. This means that low-income households can heat
their homes adequately, reducing or eliminating the widespread incidence of under-heating in vulnerable households and the associated risks to health and well-being.
The solar panels also work in tandem with the batteries, generating electricity before storing it, giving households the flexibility to use this clean energy when they need it most.
Through the combination of the innovative heating system, onsite generation and storage, and data processing emissions, these technologies are expected to reduce participating households’ carbon emissions by over 90%.
What’s next?
Over the next four years, 300 social tenants will participate in a trial of SHIELD across the southeast of England. Solar and battery systems will be installed in all 300 homes, and the Thermify ‘Heat Hub’ system will be installed in 100 of them.
During this phase, evidence will be gathered to support the scaling of the project. SHIELD aims to deploy 100,000 systems annually by 2030.
As SHIELD explores ways to expand these benefits to a broader range of homes, it promises a brighter, more affordable future for those most in need.
Social landlords and others interested in getting involved in SHIELD scale up should contact info@powercircle.org.uk for more information.
Stay safe, stay warm: free energy support and advice for a healthier home in Wales
Warm Wales on its Healthy Homes, Healthy People project, funded by Wales & West Utilities, and how it has expanded its community support by establishing a dedicated Engagement Team
The new dedicated Engagement Team is focused on reaching even more individuals and families, bringing essential energy advice and support to community groups, organisations, and events across Wales. With a friendly and informative approach, the team’s sessions aim to increase awareness and offer practical guidance on a wide range of energy-related topics. Importantly, all advice and support provided is completely free.
Different sessions to match different needs
The Engagement Team tailors each session to meet the unique needs of the audience. Whether it’s an informal chat over a cuppa, a structured presentation, or an online session, they are prepared to discuss subjects such as understanding energy bills, tips for reducing energy usage, and advice on home safety. By adapting to the preferences of each group, they ensure a comfortable environment for people to learn and ask questions about managing energy costs and maintaining safety in the home.
For individuals needing additional, personalised support, Warm
Wales offers one-to-one assistance through its experienced delivery team. This service provides targeted help with managing energy and water debt, advising on tariffs, including social tariffs, and conducting benefits checks. The team can facilitate access to essential resources such as fuel and food bank vouchers, water advice, and budgeting support. Additionally, they assist with ECO schemes and home adaptations and can help vulnerable individuals register for the Priority Services Register (PSR). Essential safety devices, including carbon monoxide alarms and locking cooker valves, are also available through this service, along with advice on their proper use.
With this new initiative, Warm Wales is committed to making energy support more accessible, bringing valuable resources directly to the communities they serve and empowering individuals to manage their energy costs and make their homes safer.
For more information or to arrange a session for your community group or organisation, please contact Warm Wales by phone on 0800 091 1786 or email at engagement@warmwales.org.uk
Switchee installs smart devices in almost 8,000 Basildon social homes
The installation of thousands of smart devices aims to help protect social housing residents in Basildon from living in damp and cold conditions
The installation of touchscreen Switchee technology is enabling residents to lower their heating bills while also helping landlords and Basildon Council to spot hazards such as damp and mould.
Real-time data to support quality of life
Basildon Council has installed 420 Switchee devices each month over the past year, meaning 85% of Basildon’s homes will be supported by the technology by 2025. This provides real-time data to support the local authority to improve the quality of life for their residents.
Switchee started installing the devices in Basildon homes in 2018 as a pilot scheme to target damp and mould prevention. The feedback from the pilot led Basildon Council to commit to Switchee installation across their housing stock. Residents, especially those who are digitally isolated, reported multiple proven benefits. Significantly, a response rate of 86% within 24 hours reduced the turnaround for resident issues to be addressed by the council.
Long-term partnership
Tom Robins, CEO of Switchee, says: ‘Our long-standing partnership with Basildon is a shining example of two organisations fostering collaboration to achieve joint missions - to improve people’s homes and lives. By adopting a data-led approach, Basildon, together with the Switchee Customer Success teams, have identified cases of damp and mould, and have taken proactive steps to improve housing stock conditions and resident satisfaction.
‘With more pressure on social landlords to understand their property portfolio and ensure tenant wellbeing, this partnership should be seen by the sector as a blueprint for best practice. I look forward to visiting many of the 8,000 homes that will benefit from a Switchee installation within the next 12 months.’
Switchee and Basildon Council have been in partnership for six years, supported by Morgan Sindall, who delivered on the installation of the devices in residents’ homes.
Cllr Gavin Callaghan, Leader of Basildon Council says: ‘Damp and
mould have been a particular focus for us to proactively combat. We are aiming to reduce the number of repeat damp and mould properties within our housing stock. We are right on track with installations and will reach our 8,000 target of Switchee’s in residents’ homes in about eight months.
‘With the Switchee device installed in homes, we have been able to identify damp and mould cases before they escalate to a complaint, ensuring a reduction in reports. This is great news for our residents to ensure they’re living safely in damp and mould free homes.’
Data collected on inefficient heating
In addition to damp and mould triaging, data gleaned from Switchee during a boiler testing campaign to residents identified over 2,500 homes where residents’ heating systems were performing inefficiently. Basildon Council was able to liaise with residents to identify issues and flag boiler fault codes before engineers attended, reducing the time it takes to achieve a resolution for the residents and reducing emergency callouts.
Andy Harris, Regional Director, Morgan Sindall Property Services, said: ‘We are delighted to be part of this collaboration with Basildon Borough Council and Switchee. This proactive and preventative approach to damp and mould will help keep residents in a warm, safe and decent home. By embracing this technology, we can unlock more insight into damp and mould and the root causes behind it, helping to keep our residents safe.’
Switchee hosted a resident engagement day on 30 October to ensure Basildon residents are kept informed about how to set the temperature in the colder months to help keep mould and damp at bay. Staff from Eco Approach, Morgan Sindall and members of the Basildon Borough Council's resident engagement and community safety teams were also on site, sharing their knowledge and advice.
To learn more about how Switchee is helping housing associations and local authorities to support their residents and remotely protect their assets, contact info@switchee.com
Connected for Warmth: bill support initiative
Affordable Warmth Solutions outlines the next phase of the Connected for Warmth programme with National Grid and the Warm Homes Fund to provide energy bill support and air source heat pumps
Following the success of the National Grid Warm Homes Fund Connected for Warmth programme, Affordable Warmth Solutions is delighted to announce the launch of the next phase of the project.
Supporting the UK's drive to reach net zero, the programme recognises the role of heat pump technology in providing the low-cost heat source required for warm and healthy homes away from the gas network.
This new phase will focus on supporting the most vulnerable households with health conditions by providing two-year bill support worth up to £1,000, together with the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, as part of a retrofit upgrade.
The bill support programme addresses some customer concerns about the unknown running costs of this unfamiliar technology. Bill support will come to customers with health conditions, in the form of vouchers worth up to £1,000 per household over two years from the installation, helping to ensure that they can afford to keep their homes warm. This project is only made possible with the generous funding from National Grid via the Warm Homes Fund and matched funding from ECO and government schemes.
carbon heating solution. He added, this ground breaking initiative is being made available to 500 qualifying homes in England and will soon be launched to a similar number of homes in Wales.’
The project delivery will be overseen by the successful partnership between Affordable Warmth Solutions and AgilityEco, both of which are experts in fuel poverty, energy efficiency, and retrofit.
Jeremy Nesbitt, Managing Director, Affordable Warmth Solutions, says, ‘I'm both delighted and excited to be able to provide the funding that helps vulnerable customers enjoy the benefits of a new low
Simon White, Operations Director, Agility Eco, says, ‘I'm delighted that AgilityEco are continuing our partnership with Affordable Warmth Solutions as we continue our focus on eliminating fuel poverty. This project will support some of the most vulnerable members of our society and demonstrates real innovation in looking to tackle barriers to adopting low carbon technologies.’
Enquiries from potential project partners are welcomed: enquiries@ agilityeco.co.uk.
Switch2 Energy chooses National Energy Action to be its Charity of the Year
National Energy Action is delighted to have been chosen as Switch2 Energy’s Charity of the Year. As part of the partnership, the team at Switch2 Energy will be holding a series of fundraising activities and campaigns throughout the year to raise vital funds and awareness to tackle fuel poverty.
Cathy Olphin, Sustainability Manager at Switch2, says, 'Everyone should have access to reliable, affordable energy, Switch2 has long been dedicated to protecting our customers through education
campaigns, advice and support, so partnering with National Energy Action to share our expertise in this area is a natural fit.
'We’re looking forward to working together to help improve the lives of those most in need across the country.'
We want to thank Switch2 Energy for choosing us and for their commitment to fighting fuel poverty across the UK.
For more information on charity partnerships, please email Michael O’Malley: Michael.omalley@nea.org.uk
EVENTS IN FOCUS
Join us on our Walk for Warmth
On 15 February 2025, we are hosting our second Walk for Warmth event, ready to build on the success of last year’s walk. We are bringing together community members and partners for a family-friendly 5km walk to raise awareness and life-changing funds to tackle fuel poverty across the UK, showing solidarity with the 6 million households living this reality.
We welcome all those close to Newcastle to join us on Saturday 15 February to take on the walk through the city centre, past some of the city’s best sights. Starting at the iconic Grey’s Monument, we’ll head to Exhibition Park, round to Leazes Park, before ending at St. James Park, next to the new National Energy Action headquarters for some hot drinks and snacks to warm up. This year,
Greggs will also kindly supply some of their sausage rolls for our walkers!
For those further afield wanting to take part, you can join by taking on your own Walk for Warmth in your local area. Your walk can take place wherever you like, just pick a 5km route and ask your teams to join you for this New Year challenge!
Don’t forget to share your participation on social media to help build awareness and encourage support – let’s see how much we can raise by walking for warmth. Together, we can make an even bigger impact in 2025.
For more information and to sign up, please visit: www.nea.org. uk/support-us/fundraise-for-national-energy-action/walk-forwarmth/
Photos: Max Cooper
Winter Warmth Support Packing from Virgin Money, National Grid and E.ON Energy
Our partners packed 1,000 Winter Warmth Support Packs over just four days, ready for us to send out to households in fuel poverty ahead of winter.
With the support from Virgin Money, National Grid and E.ON Energy, an amazing 1,000 Winter Warmth Support Packs have been put together in just four days. Winter Warmth Support Packs are a vital resource for many of the people we support, filled with items including a wearable blanket, radiator reflectors, energy advice leaflets and much more.
The packs will be sent out to some of our most vulnerable clients, helping them to stay warm and comfortable at home this winter. With energy bills having risen in October and set to rise again in January, this help from our partners is invaluable in getting more packs out to people in desperate need.
We would like to thank Virgin Money, National Grid and E.ON Energy employees for volunteering their time and their incredible
efforts to get so many packs put together.
To support our Winter Warmth Support Pack appeal, visit our website to find out how you can gift a pack to someone in need: https://www.nea.org.uk/support-us/ winter-warmth-support-packs/
To discuss making a corporate donation or volunteering, please contact our Business and Partnerships Manager Nicola Jeavons at nicola.jeavons@nea.org.uk.
A new way to donate to National Energy Action: Solar Sharing with Octopus
We are delighted to share that Octopus Energy has set up a new scheme for their customers to support National Energy Action, helping us in the fight against fuel poverty
The Solar Sharing programme allows Octopus Energy customers on a smart solar tariff with home PV solar panels and a smart meter to donate excess solar exports.
So, when a customer’s solar panels generate more power than they need, instead of selling the excess electricity back to the grid, the funds can instead be donated to National Energy Action to support people in fuel poverty.
Customers simply opt-in to the programme and select National Energy Action to receive the value of the excess electricity and
Octopus will take care of the rest. Customers will also get an email from Octopus letting them know how much they donated, as well as how much was donated collectively by all solar users.
We are incredibly grateful to Octopus for their support and for selecting us as a beneficiary of their Solar Sharing programme. This programme is a wonderful way to ensure that green energy can benefit those living in fuel poverty.
If you would like more information, on the programme, visit the website: www.octopus.energy/solar-sharing/
Thank you to all who supported our Fuel Poverty Awareness Day
The success of the day shows just how major an issue fuel poverty remains and how the energy crisis continues to resonate across the UK
Fuel Poverty Awareness Day is one of our biggest days of the year. On Wednesday 27 November, hundreds of organisations and individuals shared and engaged with thousands of social media posts. The hashtag #FuelPovertyAwarenessDay was posted 1,558 times. It reached 9.66 million and we trended 12th on Twitter/X.
Leading up to Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, National Energy Action had 48 media mentions and appearances, and Fuel Poverty Awareness Day was mentioned 42 times. We released a story about people missing out on the Cold Weather Payment on Sunday. On Tuesday we released data from the Homes team's work with the University of Salford showing the difference between heating homes at 16 degrees and 18 degrees is 66p a day. NEA NI also released their new Lucid Talk poll showing that 40% of respondents were in fuel poverty.
Regarding the price cap, we shared our figures that 6.1 million UK households will be in fuel poverty from January and highlighted who would be most impacted by these rises.
We had an MP drop-in in Westminster, engaged with elected Members at Stormont and met with Members of the Senedd. We encouraged our supporters to write to their elected officials to call for more support for the most vulnerable. We held assemblies, developed by the Education and Training team, in schools. We estimate that these will have reached over 4,000 children. Our staff were out and about at community events. Many of the events were made possible through the community event fund that we administered. These events are estimated to reach over 4,000 people who need our help.
A huge thank you to anybody who took part in any activity whether that
was amplifying our work on social media or running an event targeted at households in fuel poverty. We're always so impressed at how our supporters rise to the challenge to ensure the voices of households in fuel poverty are heard loud and clear. Nation’s Biggest Housewarming
We are also thrilled to share the success of the Nation’s Biggest Housewarming 2024 with you, which took place as part of Fuel Poverty Awareness Day 2024.
Thanks to our incredible supporters, over 40 housewarming events were held across the UK, helping to raise vital funds to support some of the 6 million households living in fuel poverty this winter.
Highlights from the campaign included SO Energy donating and volunteering to pack Winter Warmth Support Packs, as well as a quiz by Smart DCC.
Across the country organisations held so many fantastic events. There was a raffle in Portsmouth by Switched On, a silent auction by Portsmouth council, a fun activity day in Swansea by MAD, an awareness event by Wolverhampton Home Energy Wise, tip sharing in Calderdale by the VSI alliance, to name a few.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took part, for their generous donations and volunteering efforts. With your help, we were able to make this the biggest Housewarming yet, showing each of our communities that we stand together against fuel poverty.
If you’d like to see photos or share your own highlights from the Nation’s Biggest Housewarming, you can follow us on social media and use the hashtag #NationsBiggestHousewarming.
We’re excited to keep up the momentum and continue making an impact and will keep you updated on our upcoming campaigns and events to get involved in.
Hamza’s story
This story from our Lived Experience Library shows the impact we have
Hamza lives in local authority housing and has multiple health conditions, including asthma, depression, mobility issues and PTSD. Hamza is medically dependent on electricity as he has been prescribed medication that requires refrigeration. Hamza requires a translator to access both written and spoken information. His local authority housing provider had chosen his energy supplier for him, and he began to struggle to afford his gas bill. Hamza was paying a £160 a month gas bill for his one-bedroom flat. He had accumulated over £440 in fuel debt, which he could not afford to pay back. Hamza’s friend helped him reach out for support from National Energy Action. We immediately advised him on his billing situation and sorted out a new tariff along with a hardship fund and a Winter Warmth Support Pack.
However, Hamza reached out to his adviser again five months later due to the presence of mould in his flat. Due to Hamza’s severe asthma, he was worried about the danger posed by mould. The housing provider visited Hamza’s home several times and cleaned the mould, but after every visit, the mould would return due to the humidity. They advised Hamza to buy a dehumidifier, but Hamza could not afford one.
Hamza’s adviser contacted his housing provider for further support. The adviser asked the housing provider to update the EPC of the property, which would provide Hamza with eligibility for the Warm Home Discount, look into providing a dehumidifier, consider improvements to the home and provide financial assistance. Despite following up multiple times, Hamza’s adviser never received a response from the housing provider. Therefore, Hamza was signposted to the Housing Ombudsman and other charities to offer him help and support. Hamza was also worried that complaining could result in his tenancy contract not being extended, leaving him homeless, but we supported and encouraged him to do so.
Hamza was sent a further £147 in energy vouchers to support his electricity needs. His adviser also sent Hamza £200 of shopping vouchers and, through our own crisis fund, provided a double heated blanket, oil-filled radiator and the dehumidifier he so badly needed.
'I wanted to thank you for the kindness and love you have shown me, it was really a great help for me who is disabled, and I will never forget your kindness and I wish you the best. Thank you very much.'
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NATIONAL ENERGY ACTION
National Energy Action, the fuel poverty charity, campaigns so everyone can afford to live in a warm and safe home. This is something denied to millions because of poor housing, low incomes, and high bills.
Working across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, everything we do aims to improve the lives of people in fuel poverty. We directly support people with energy and income maximisation advice and we advocate on issues including improving the energy efficiency of our homes.
We do not work alone. Partnerships and collaboration have been at the heart of National Energy Action for more than 40 years, helping us drive better health and wellbeing outcomes for people struggling to heat their homes.
WHERE TO FIND US
Email: focus@nea.org.uk Web: www.nea.org.uk
NEA is an independent charity, Registration No. 290511. Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England, No. 1853927 Registered office: Level 6, West One, Forth Banks, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3PA Tel: 0191 261 5677
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