Tackling Fuel Poverty
Fiona Hannon
Energy Action Fuel Poverty Conference
2014
What’s happened in the last 12 months
Energy Engage Code?
• To keep disconnections in the electricity and gas
markets to an absolute minimum
Suppliers committed to never disconnecting an
engaging customer
What is it?
• A joint commitment from suppliers to:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Never disconnect an engaging customer
Treat customers as individuals
Offer a range of payment and repayment options
Work with customers to find the most suitable solution for them
Provide every opportunity to remain connected
Always offer a PAYG meter where possible
Work more closely with agencies representing customers – VDP,
MABS
Results so far
• Those who are aware of the Code are more positive
about contacting us and more likely to proactively
contact us
• Code has become widely publicised by customer
representative groups
• Key assistance from SVP and MABS promoting the
Code
How’s the industry doing?
Reduction in Electricity Disconnections
Electricity Disconnections/ 10,000 customers 2012-2014*
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Q1 2012
Q2 2012
Q3 2012
Q4 2012
Q1 2013
*All figures taken from published CER Retail Market Monitoring Reports
Q2 2013
Q3 2013
Q4 2013
Q1 2014
Q2 2014
Electricity PAYG meters installed 2012-2014
Electricity PAYG Installed
50,000
45,000
40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
Q1 2012
Q2 2012
Q3 2012
Q4 2012
Q1 2013
Q2 2013
Q3 2013
Q4 2013
Q1 2014
Correlation between PAYG and Disconnection
6000
50,000
45,000
5000
40,000
35,000
4000
30,000
3000
25,000
20,000
2000
15,000
10,000
1000
5,000
0
0
Q1 2012 Q2 2012 Q3 2012 Q4 2012 Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014
No. of disconnections
PPM Installed
Reduction in Gas Disconnections
Gas disconnections/10,000 customers 2012-2014
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Q1 2012
Q2 2012
Q3 2012
Q4 2012
Q1 2013
Q2 2013
Q3 2013
Q4 2013
Q1 2014
Q2 2014
Gas PAYG Installed 2012-2014
Gas PAYG Installed
40000
35000
Axis Title
30000
25000
20000
15000
10000
5000
0
Q1 2012
Q2 2012
Q3 2012
Q4 2012
Q1 2013
Q2 2013
Q3 2013
Q4 2013
Q1 2014
Q2 2014
Correlation between PAYG and disconnection
3000
40000
35000
2500
30000
2000
25000
1500
20000
15000
1000
10000
500
5000
0
0
Q1 2012 Q2 2012 Q3 2012 Q4 2012 Q1 2013 Q2 2013 Q3 2013 Q4 2013 Q1 2014
No of Disconenctions
PPM installed
Summary
• Continuing downward trend
• Direct correlation between PAYG availability and
disconnection
• Figures include vacant properties – working with
CER to identify these properties to remove them from
reports
What’s SSE Airtricity doing?
Increasing options for customers
• An Post Household Budget Scheme – first supplier in
20 years to enter the scheme which allows direct
payments from social welfare benefits towards bills
• Top up options – over phone, online, Paypoint,
Payzone
• Lifestyle PAYG metering
SSE Airtricity Energy Efficiency Initiatives
How do they work?
• Working in partnership with bodies including county
councils and SEAI
• SSE Airtricity manage the project from end to end
• Contribute time and financial resources
• Aiming to reduce bills by increasing energy
efficiency in homes
• Measures include loft & cavity insulation, upgrading
boilers, storage heaters and installing new windows
Fingal Project
• Worked with SEAI & Fingal
County Council
• 69 Local Authority Homes
involved
• 60% homes in fuel poverty before
project commenced
• Installed new high efficiency gas
boilers and undertook BER
assessments
Wexford Project
• Worked with SEAI & Wexford
County Council
• 102 Local Authority Homes
involved
• 80% homes in fuel poverty before
project commenced
• Installed cavity and loft
insulation at properties and
undertook BER assessments
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Project
• Worked with SEAI & Dun Laoghaire
Rathdown County Council
• 80 Local Authority Homes involved
• 60% homes in fuel poverty before
project commenced
• Installed new high efficiency
boilers, cavity and loft insulation at
properties and undertook BER
assessments
Limerick Project
• Worked with SEAI & Limerick
County Council
• 444 Local Authority Homes
involved
• 80% homes in fuel poverty
before project commenced
• Installed cavity and loft
insulation at properties and
undertook BER assessments
What’s Next?
For SSE Airtricity?
• Continue to work with customers and explore new
budgeting options
• Working with the Energy Engage Code to encourage
engagement with customers who may be struggling
• Continue to work to bring energy efficiency to homes
through partnerships
For energy?
• Wider availability of prepayment meters for
customers in need
• Implications of energy efficiency obligations
• What about VAT rate? 5% UK 5.5% France
Thank You