Ofgem Chairman Martin Cave, along with colleagues from the energy regulator, has visited our latest Help to Heat project in Littlehampton to see how we’re helping residents heat their homes for less by connecting them to our gas network.
Our CEO John Morea joined the Ofgem group as they met residents who are enjoying gas central heating for the first time, thanks to our Help to Heat scheme. The scheme helps households who are struggling to pay their energy bills or are finding it difficult to afford keeping their home warm by providing free or discounted connections to our gas network.
Through our Help to Heat scheme, we’re connecting more than 400 Arun homes to our network at no cost to the residents. We’ve also granted Arun District Council a further £700,000 towards the cost of installing new central heating systems in these properties, which will ensure these families will have access to affordable heating in their homes for the first time. Arun District Council is delivering this project as part of its Arun Warmer Homes project with support from Mitie Property Services and Affordable Warmth Solutions CIC.
Since 2013, we’ve helped to lift more than 24,000 households out of fuel poverty in the south of England and across Scotland. We’re currently preparing our business plan for the next Ofgem price control RIIO-GD2 that starts in 2021. Making a positive impact on our communities, with initiatives like our Help to Heat scheme, is one of three commitments at the heart of our plan.