Age Action Alliance
Safe, Warm Homes Working Group – Report – 7.11.2017
This was my first time at this meeting, but I found my way across London with the help of Moira’s excellent directions. We meet in a building called CAN Mezzanine – meaning Community Action Network 49-51 East Road London.
Maria Wardrobe, Director of Communications and External Relations for the NEA, National Energy Action, welcomed everyone and suggested round-table introductions which I found very useful. Other members were as follows
• Amie Harding British Gas
• Dan Edwards SGN – Southern Gas Networks
• Mr Mervyn Age UK London
• Pam Wynne BEIS – Business Energy Industrial Strategy Gov.
• Dave Pryce DWP
There were only 7 people at this meeting as Maria had received a few cancellations and apologies that morning. This group had not met since March due to various reasons. I was made very welcome and Maria was pleased that EMLLF was represented and suggested that other older peoples’ groups will be invited in the future.
Update from British Gas – celebrating creating 20,000 Dementia Friends in their staff. With an estimated 100,000 customers living with dementia and a further 100,000 disabled customers they were training their staff to raise awareness of issues they might encounter.
They are also involved in creating a scheme called ‘Friends against Scams’ with Scam Champions to spread the word. Amie will give a presentation on this topic at the next meeting. There is a boiler maintenance company in London who have registered the name ‘The Gas Board’ this is causing a lot of confusion and complaints from dissatisfied customers.
Update from SGN – Locking Cooker Valve - Dan Edwards reiterated the use of the locking cooker valve which has been designed for use with all age groups and vulnerabilities. The valve allows carers to lock off the gas supply so the cooker cannot be used unless the key holder is in the property. Further details can be found at www.sgn.co.uk/Safety/Locking-Cooker-Valve
Dan also spoke about the ‘Priority Services Register’ this is where vulnerable customers can have their details put on the register, so they get priority treatment in the event of a service failure for example if someone is on a dialysis machine and there was a power outage, a generator could be used.
Update from NEA – Maria gave a power point presentation. I have a paper copy of this as it covered many areas and topics.
General Discussion – Maria pointed out that this sector is full of acronyms so I have produced a short list below
• NEA – National Energy Action – a charity organisation
• PRS – Private Rented Sector – the worst area for fuel poverty
• DNO – Distribution Network Operators
• ECO – Energy Company Obligation
• BEIS – Business Energy Industrial Strategy – Government
• ENEI Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion
• SGN – A re-branded company name which now doesn’t actually stand for anything!
There is potentially a massive issue facing many people with the roll-out of smart meters. This is when an operative turns up to a property to connect a new smart meter and discovers the pipes are corroded and unsafe, the wiring is faulty, or the boiler is dangerous. They are obliged to fit the meter, but also obliged to condemn the equipment as dangerous, thereby leaving vulnerable people with no heating etc. Two charities are warning that a loss of funding for repairs and replacements will badly damage thousands of peoples’ health, wellbeing and could even lead to deaths this winter.
The crisis will lead to as many as one in six appliances being condemned as part of the meter roll-out and one in ten households not being able to afford to service, repair or replace these faulty appliances. The NEA is working with the heating industry to urge the UK Government to use the upcoming budget to introduce a national boiler scrappage scheme and provide emergency assistance to low income households.
Next Meeting – planned for March 2018
Chris Wheeldon
Janice Cooper, 7th November 2017