SSEN partners with energy efficiency experts to help its customers and tackle fuel poverty
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) has partnered with Home Energy Scotland (HES) and YES Energy Solutions (YES) to offer its customers free and impartial expert energy efficiency advice which will help tackle fuel poverty.
SSEN owns and operates the electricity distribution networks that carry electricity to over 4.1 million homes and businesses across north of Scotland and central southern England.
As part of the network operator’s ongoing commitment to ensure it supports customers in vulnerable situations, SSEN’s partnerships with HES in the north of Scotland and YES in central southern England will see SSEN’s teams offer customers assistance to help them keep warm and save money.
Lyndsey Stainton, Head of Stakeholder Engagement at SSEN, said:
“Fuel poverty is a challenge that we all need to work together to address and as a responsible network operator, we are determined to play our role in supporting our customers who need extra help.
“These partnerships are an important part of the support we can provide, helping people living in our network areas to heat their homes efficiently and save money.
“To help identify those customers who may need extra assistance, we’ve trained our frontline colleagues to listen and look for signs indicating they would benefit from this expert energy efficiency advice.”
Harry Mayers, Head of Home Energy Scotland, said:
“Having the opportunity to reach greater numbers of people to offer impartial advice and help reduce bills, through working in partnership with SSEN and referring people to their Priority Services Register, is truly welcomed. At Home Energy Scotland we embrace partnership working wholeheartedly and are pleased to continue to offer our support in tackling fuel poverty.“
Duncan McCombie, CEO of YES Energy Solutions, added:
“Our staff at YES Energy Solutions have a wealth of experience in the energy efficiency sector and this opportunity to use our expertise to alleviate fuel poverty is what we consistently strive to achieve. The scheme fits perfectly with our Community Interest Company status, and partnerships like these are vital in reversing the rise of fuel poverty across the country.”
If a referral is accepted, HES and YES will provide eligible customers with free advice on a range of services including:
- Saving energy
- Switching energy suppliers
- Grants and loans available for insulation and heating systems
- Money they could be claiming such as the Warm Home Discount and Winter Fuel Payment
- Heating hot water and thermostat advice
- Smart meters and how to use them effectively
- Income maximisation
Upon identifying a customer who may benefit from this free support, SSEN will send data securely to HES and YES, who will contact those customers to discuss the support available within five working days.
In 2017, SSEN joined forces with HES to promote SSEN’s Priority Services Register, which offers free extra support to those who need it most during a power cut.
