Funds gathered through the latest round of the Ofgem Energy Redress Scheme will be distributed to organisations providing energy advice, supporting carbon reduction, and developing innovative energy-focused services and products.
The Ofgem Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme (Energy Redress Scheme) has announced how it is awarding the latest round of funding. In the sixth round of the scheme, £4.3 million in grants will be distributed to 22 organisations across Great Britain through one of three funding streams.
In this funding round, 19 awards worth a total of £3.6 million will be made from the Main and Small funds, aimed at projects supporting vulnerable households with energy advice and support.
One recipient is Northern Hull Community Development, which will receive £296,454 for its Hull Energy Action Team project. The project provides a range of information, advice and support to vulnerable households experiencing fuel poverty in Hull.
Jayne Brindley, trustee at Northern Hull Community Development said:
“With over 43% of households in our community living in fuel poverty, the funding will provide us with a dedicated team of energy advisors that will enable us to support vulnerable households across the city by delivering energy awareness workshops and assessing energy efficiency within individual homes.
“Putting in place measures to make homes more energy efficient will directly benefit residents of Hull by reducing their energy bills and making their homes more comfortable.”
Through funding from the Carbon Emissions Reduction Fund, aimed at supporting projects reducing carbon emissions from energy use, Marches Energy Agency will continue to promote decarbonisation across the Midlands. The organisation makes independent, impartial and trusted retrofit advice available to householders.
London-based Housing Association Charitable Trust has been awarded funding from the Innovation Fund to develop its Retrofit Credits service. This service unlocks investment in retrofitting homes by verifying retrofit projects’ carbon emission reductions and social value.
Also receiving funding is a Retrofit for All: People Centred Retrofit project, based in Manchester. The project develops solutions to the challenges housing providers face in centring householders in the delivery of public retrofit programmes.
Since 2018, the Energy Redress Scheme has funded hundreds of projects across Great Britain. The funding is collected through Ofgem’s enforcement and compliance activity, where companies that have breached energy rules agree to make a voluntary payment into the Energy Redress Scheme.
Graham Ayling, senior project manager for the Energy Redress Scheme, said:
“We’re pleased to announce £4.3 million of new funding to help organisations at the heart of their communities reach and support vulnerable people to stay warm in their homes. It will also fund innovative projects that aim to improve household energy efficiency and empower people to play a part in and benefit from the transition to net zero.”
Cathryn Scott, director for enforcement and emerging issues at Ofgem, said:
“Protecting customers is at the heart of Ofgem’s mission, so when we make energy companies pay for falling short of the standards we set, it’s only right that customers should be the ones who benefit.
“Since the Redress Fund was established, more than 538 projects across Great Britain have been awarded over £102 million in funding to for projects helping households who might be struggling with energy bills, and it’s brilliant to see 22 more organisations benefit from this support.”
Read more about the funded projects.