AAA Safe & Warm Homes - 23rd March 2017
Although this group is due to meet quarterly this was the first meeting since September 2016. Maria Wardrobe welcomed us to the meeting and introductions were made around the table.
Pam Wynne, Dept. for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), stated that energy was now in the spotlight because of the price increases but some positive news was that complaints were down. There had been some progress in tackling the energy crisis and fuel poverty with National Energy Action (NEA) working with BEIS
Dave Pryce from DWP gave a brief update stating AAA now had 845 members. The DWP were in the process of relinquishing participation and support of AAA groups except for ones they had a particular interest in. This was not news but the AAA groups are being taken over by ENEI & IMUK. There was an update and there had been an 18 month extension to the Energy Quality Obligation and work was underway about what was going to happen to ECO after 2018. The Warm Homes discounts had continued though this winter but there were discussions about the future. There is work ongoing at looking into the least energy efficient homes and fuel poverty particularly in the private rental sector. The fuel poverty stats will be out in the summer (end of June). There is a report due out just before Christmas which will give 20 recommendations for the industry and there are amendments to the digital water bill being worked on at the moment.
Helen Webb of Christians Against Poverty raised the issue of prepayment meters and the difficulties people encounter with these higher charges. They offer a face to face service offering life-skills advice. They produce a yearly report and part of this is on fuel poverty. She stated that over a third of their clients have waited three years or more before they seek help with these problems. A copy of their report is available on line www.Capuk.org/policy and www.Capuk.org/poorpaymoreupdate Some of the figures she gave were startling with regards to the number of people who do not eat so that they can feed their children or heat the home.
Daniel Walker Nolan and Jake Beavan from CAB gave an update on smart meters. It is aimed to install 53 million by 2020. Only three suppliers had their own definition of vulnerability although all were proactive in trying to identify vulnerable customers. 30% of the industry were providing one-to-one contact prior to installation, two had trained installers to offer energy efficiency, but only one said they were going to appoint a single person to help vulnerable people. 86% plan to offer alternative heating, lighting and cooking for fuel efficiency. 85% provide a pre-install letter or email in advance with information. Three suppliers offer a follow-up contact to see how the customer is finding the new meters and only one is monitoring consumption for any detrimental response/effect of the new meter. It is aimed to ultimately put in place minimum standards for follow-up and alternative provision for condemned appliances. More work needs to be done on how smart meters can help vulnerable consumers. People should be encouraged to go on the Priority Service Register. All suppliers should have the facility to get service in if an appliance is condemned when the inspection is undertaken on the installation of smart meters and the consumer should not be charged for this emergency measure. The installers should be able to give advice if the appliance is not repairable. The Digital Central Control programme has been delayed (this is the programmed which connects the different type of meters in order to make changing suppliers easier).
Simon Main from the Gas Safety Charity gave a talk on “Think COâ€. This tries to raise awareness of staff who work in the homes of vulnerable people about the dangers of CO and to encourage the use of CO detectors.
Robbie Stevenson from SGN said that the locking cooker valve had now been rolled out to all gas distribution networks and these can be fitted free to vulnerable households (not only dementia suffers but also could apply to people with autism and other conditions where gas safety is an issue)
Jane Minter from Care and Repair England said they had help lines for people with long term conditions and there would be the launch of Dementia Friendly housing on Friday (24.03.17)
British Gas now has 8,500 homes registered under the Dementia Friends
The charity Dementia Utilities Group are looking to provide guidance to business. This is an on-going project.
The Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency group were looking for thoughts on vulnerable older people – details to follow.
NEA Focus newsletter is available on their website.
Janice Cooper, 23rd March 2017