Community Initiative award for Energywise ‘Vulnerable Customers and Energy Efficiency’ project

The Energy Institute awarded the Community Spirit Award to the team behind the Energy Wise Vulnerable Customers and Energy Efficiency project. This award is aimed at both energy companies that have instigated projects for the benefit of communities amongst which they work and communities undertaking their own initiatives, to tackle energy issues or draw help and advice from energy companies.

Energywise was a research project to address the needs of people in fuel poverty and ensure people living in social housing developments can access the energy saving and economic benefits of the national smart meter roll-out, by engaging both with fuel poor customers and the public sector bodies supporting them.

By using Time of Use tariffs consumers could save energy and reduce bills, using information their smart meters to reduce demand at peak times. The project used a large-scale behavioural study on Time of Use tariffs explored how distribution network operators can work collaboratively with energy suppliers and local trusted organisations to deliver appropriate services to communities of low-income households who may be struggling with their energy bills. UCL Energy Institute’s team, led by Prof David Shipworth, did the analysis of consumer energy saving and energy shifting on the energywise (AKA VCEE) trials.

The project was completed with UKPN, British Gas, CAG Consultants, Tower Hamlets Homes, Poplar HARCA, Bromley-by-Bow Community Centre as partners and was funded by Ofgem.

Find out more

• Energy Institute Awards
• Energywise
• PACE Research Group: People, Adaptability, Comfort and smart Energy