E.ON has announced that, subject to final approval by the energy regulator Ofgem, it is the first major energy company to have met all aspects of Government targets – insulating tens of thousands of homes and providing energy efficiency help to some of the country’s most vulnerable communities.
Through the multi-million pound Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT) and the Community Energy Savings Programme (CESP), E.ON has installed more than 880,000 insulation measures and provided ‘whole-house’ energy efficiency solutions to more than 14,000 social and privately-owned homes across the UK.
Measures included solid wall insulation for hard-to-treat homes, new energy efficient boilers and even solar panels and heat pumps, in many cases helping individual families to cut hundreds of pounds from their fuel bills.
E.ON UK Chief Executive Tony Cocker called on Government to work with the industry on the new Energy Company Obligation (ECO) to encourage people to apply for the assistance that is available and also to help explain the costs of these schemes to customers who ultimately fund them through their bills.
He said: “From Falkirk to the Isle of Wight and from Port Talbot to Kent, we’ve made people’s homes warmer, improved their quality of life and helped reduce fuel bills.
“The targets have been challenging which is why I am so proud of my team who have worked tirelessly and succeeded in helping tens of thousands of people.
“We cannot control many of the external costs that make up a customer’s energy bill but we have proved by meeting these obligations, subject to final verification by Ofgem, that we will do what we can to help people reduce their energy consumption and cut their bills.”
The deadline for companies to meet the two obligations is December 31st as the industry gears up to deliver ECO from the New Year onwards. E.ON has previously argued that the costs of Government social schemes have more than doubled in the last twelve months with another increase expected next year.
Government estimated that £3.2 billion of investment was needed by energy suppliers to supply carbon reduction measures under CERT. Some 40% of CERT was targeted at priority groups including those on low incomes and the over-70s. Another 15% of the target was targeted at the ‘super priority group’ said to be the most vulnerable in society.
CESP was expected to deliver efficiency measures to around 90,000 homes in 4,500 eligible areas across the country, promoting a ‘whole house’ approach with a package of energy efficiency measures including solid wall and loft insulation and boiler replacements.
Tony added: “At the end of the day it is our customers who fund this work through their bills so we have to prove we are targeting investment to help the right people in the most cost-effective way.
“One of the most important things we have learned is those who could benefit the most, the priority or super priority groups, have often been the hardest people to find. We are now looking to replicate our success by creating long-term partnerships with councils under ECO, but to make this work well we need the support of the Government and all its agencies to encourage people to take up the help that is available.
“That also includes being open about the costs of these schemes. If customers know how much they are paying towards ECO then perhaps they will be more inclined to contact their supplier and see how they can help them.”
