‘Innovation and Change – a new direction for the Fuel Poverty Strategy’ was the theme of National Energy Action’s highly successful 2009 annual conference held at the
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State David Kidney MP delivered the conference keynote address in which he insisted that fighting fuel poverty continued to be a priority for Government. Mr Kidney outlined the success of the Warm Front Scheme that has provided assistance to more than two million households since it began in 2000; the scheme’s achievements include the insulation of 460,000 cavity walls and 660,000 lofts insulated as well as installation of 163,000 new central heating systems. The Minister highlighted the Government’s intention of putting social price support on a statutory footing after the voluntary agreement with energy suppliers runs out. Mr Kidney said that the Government recognised the need for greater efforts across Government, working in conjunction with local authorities, delivery partners and the third sector to reduce fuel poverty, especially in view of the current worsening economic climate and rising energy price trends.
He stressed the importance of the Renewable Heat Incentive and the role that feed-in tariffs could play in supplying clean energy cash-back rewards, underlining his commitment to ensure that low-income households do not miss out because of the upfront costs. He stated that any policy proposals to address this were very welcome.
Daron Walker, Director of the Fuel Poverty Review being undertaken by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, provided an update on the progress of the Government’s Fuel Poverty Review. He confirmed that existing social offerings from energy suppliers would continue as part of the new energy costs support proposals. In the first phase of this scheme a ‘kernel’ group was identified for priority assistance – those aged 70 or over and in receipt of the guarantee element of Pension Credit; the rationale for this decision was that this would ensure effective targeting of a group whose circumstances were unlikely to alter. Mr Walker also indicated that a section of the funding would be earmarked for discretionary spend to allow support to be directed to other groups.
Sarah Harrison, Senior Partner – Sustainable Development at Ofgem, highlighted the findings from the Energy Supply Probe – stressing that although overall the market was working effectively there were still areas that would have to be addressed.
Ofgem is concentrating on four main areas:
- Providing clearer information
- Giving consumers greater confidence
- A ban on undue discrimination
- Greater protection for vulnerable and indebted customers
Ms Perchard urged Government to ensure that adequate help is given to the working fuel poor. The working fuel poor often live on half the average national income and 70% of them are single with children but current strategies often overlook these households. Teresa focused upon the need for more social marketing to raise public awareness about how to get the most out of their energy companies and called for a major campaign to promote benefits take-up among disabled groups as well as the need to improve quality of service within the Department for Work and Pensions.
Martin Lawrence, Chief Executive of EDF Energy, told conference that he believed that energy suppliers had a crucial role to play on a statutory basis and welcomed the move towards a mandatory social support structure from 2011. Mr Lawrence highlighted future data sharing between Government and suppliers as an important step in identifying the most vulnerable but also recognised the need for this to be balanced with concerns about data protection and equity.
NEA also used conference to launch its proposals for a National Energy Efficiency Scheme; an ambitious national retrofit programme that NEA believes can deliver the Government target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016.
NEA Director of Communications, Maria Wardrobe, told conference that the scheme represented a radical departure from the current piecemeal approach to delivering energy efficiency, and that this new strategy would see local authorities play a key role in delivering street-by-street energy efficiency advice and practical measures.
William Gillis, Managing Director of Warm Zones, described how the area-based approach works in practice. Warm Zone sis a wholly owned subsidiary of NEA and represents a possible model for wider replication on a national basis.
The Plenary Sessions were supplemented by a range of seminars covering topics including: fuel debt; energy service companies; social tariffs; fuel poverty in
The second main session heard EDF Energy’s Director of Specialist Markets Jo Steven outline the company’s social tariffs including its Energy Assist package and its work with partners including the WRVS and the
Dr Gill Owen, a member of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group, told the session that the introduction of Smart Meters offered the potential for new forms of tariffs and discussed the merits and potential disadvantages of such innovation.
The conference also featured an innovative ‘Dragon’s Den’ style session that saw installers ‘pitch’ their energy efficiency ideas and products to a team of experts.
The third main session featured MPs’ views on future priorities and Brighton Kemptown MP, Dr Desmond Turner, and Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, outlined their personal and party views on energy efficiency and climate change.
Conference seminar presentations for download
| TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER | ||
Opening address | ||
Session A: Fuel Debt and Consumer Representation | ||
| Session B: Financing Area-Based Initiatives Chair: • Steve Ives, DECC Speakers: Andy Stephenson, Vice Chair, Carbon Action Network William Gillis, Managing Director, Warm Zones c.i.c | ||
| Session C: Recent Changes to Warm Front Chair: • Peter Sumby, Director of Operations, NEA Speakers: • Ross Armstrong, Delivery Manager, eaga plc • Hayley Peters, Delivery Manager, eaga plc • Sian Priest, Fuel Poverty Team, DECC | ||
| Ministerial Address • David Kidney MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DECC | ||
| Plenary 1: Fuel Poverty Review Chair: • David Green OBE, Vice President, NEA Panel: • Martin Lawrence, Managing Director Energy Sourcing and Customer Supply, EDF Energy • Daron Walker, Director, Fuel Poverty Review, DECC Sarah Harrison, Managing Director, Ofgem • Teresa Perchard, Director of Policy, Citizens Advice • Jenny Saunders, Chief Executive, NEA • David Kidney MP will join the panel following his address | ||
| Plenary 2: Innovation in Technologies, Tariffs and Social Initiatives and Skills Chair: • Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan, Vice President, NEA Speakers: Eddie Hyams, Chairman, Energy Saving Trust Dr Gill Owen, Member of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group Jonathan Mackey, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills Jo Steven, Director of Specialist Markets, EDF Energy | ||
| Session D: ESCOs in Development Chair: • Christoph Sinn, Policy and Practice Officer, Chartered Institute of Housing Speakers: Rod Yeoman, Environmental Projects Manager, Social Housing Sector, Impact Housing Jerome Baddley, Sustainable Energy Development Manager, Nottingham Energy Partnership | ||
| Session E: Technologies Explored in the Dragons Den Chair: • Penny Poyzer, Author and Television Presenter Dragons: • Arthur Scott, Head of Technical Services, NEA • Pam Wynne, Head of Fuel Poverty Team, DECC • Neil Schofield, Business Development Manager, Worcester Bosch Group • Bob Carter, Regional Director, Warm Zones c.i.c • John Lightfoot, Director, Heatking Ltd • Eric Salomon, Director Energy Field Services, EDF Energy Entrepreneurs: Charlie Lamb, Baxi - showcasing Micro CHP Paul Lovegrove, National Sales Manager, Horstmann Controls Ltd - showcasing Horstmann controls for the disabled • Adrian Liddell, Enact Energy and Aad De Ruiter, Lexin - showcasing Long Wave Electric Heaters Lee Marston, Fibre Technology Ltd - showcasing Microtex Fossil Fuel Head Pad | ||
| WEDNESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER | ||
| Session F: Innovation in Tariffs and Social Initiatives Explored Chair: Valentine Mulholland, Head of Policy Specialist Markets, EDF Energy Speakers: • Heather Lowe, Energy Advice Projects Manager, WRVS • Joanne Carr, Director of Business Development, NEA Oliver Wright, Campaign Manager, Energy Retail Association | ||
Session G: Commissioning for Improved Health and Wellbeing - Reducing Health Inequalities Associated with Cold Homes | ||
| Session H: Qualifications and Skills Explored Chair: • Joanne Carr, Director of Business Development, NEA Speakers: Paul Gaze, National Specialist Team Manager, Construction Sector Skills Council | ||
| Session I: The Big Shift for the Poor - Behavioural and Social Marketing Approaches Chair: • Phil Dowling, DECC Speakers: David Lynch, Research Officer, NEA Louise Walden, EDF Energy Dr Angela Mary Tod, Principal Research Fellow, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University Professor Jeff French, Director, National Social Marketing Centre | ||
| Session J: Fuel Poverty Action at a European Level Chair: • Virginia Graham, Trustee, NEA Speakers: Ron Campbell, Head of Campaigns, Policy, Research and Information, NEA Mauro Brolis, Cestec (Italy) Oliver Bajard, Director Vulnerable Customers Team, EDF Energy (France) | ||
Plenary 3: A Vision for the Future - Innovation Beyond 2012 |