Age UK and Smart Energy GB join forces to help older people benefit from smart meters
Smart Energy GB, the voice of Britain’s smart meter rollout, has teamed up with Age UK, Age Scotland and Age Cymru to reach thousands of people over the age of 65 with information about using a smart meter. The partnership, in particular, will help people with memory impairment and dementia to access information about smart meters.
Every home will be offered a smart meter, at no additional cost, by 2020. Smart meters bring an end to estimated bills and show people how much energy they are using in pounds and pence, in near real time. They will also make prepayment for energy cheaper and more convenient.
Age UK is the country’s largest charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. Its network includes Age Scotland, Age Cymru and 166 Local Age UK branches across England. More than 7 million people use Age UK’s national advice line, website and local advice services.
Smart Energy GB will work with Age UK from September 2016 to provide information on smart meters through:
- Content on its website, coverage on its radio station and communications in newsletters and across social media. Information leaflets will be made available in some of its retail shops and local Age UK services
- Similar Age Cymru and Age Scotland channels, and with information in their local branches
- A selected number of local Age UKs working with people with memory impairment and their carers to ensure that this information reaches them in the most appropriate way.
Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB said:
“Smart meters can make a particularly big difference to the way many older people use and pay for their energy. They make it easier for people on a fixed income to manage their budgets, and for those on prepay contracts to keep their energy supply topped up. Our partnership with Age UK will help us take the smart meter message to older people – particularly those with memory impairments, who may be harder to reach.”
Steve Hampson, Head of Innovation and Programmes at Age UK, said:
“We know many older people worry about estimated energy bills and meter readers entering their homes. Smart meters will tackle these issues and for the first time it will be possible to really take stock of the energy you use.
"But these are new skills to learn, so through this partnership Age UK will support older people, specifically those with memory impairment, to learn how a smart meter could help them better manage their energy consumption”.
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Notes to editors
About Smart Energy GB
Smart Energy GB is the voice of the smart meter rollout. It’s our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to get their gas and electricity under control. Our national campaign has already begun and will reach all households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit this page.
About smart meters and the rollout
Smart meters will replace the traditional meters we currently have in our homes. They will provide consumers with accurate bills, near real time information on energy usage in pounds and pence, and greater control over their gas and electricity. The smart meter rollout is an essential technology upgrade, unprecedented in its scale, to improve Great Britain’s energy infrastructure. Between now and 2020, everyone across England, Scotland and Wales will be offered a smart meter by their energy supplier at no extra cost. More than 3.5 million smart meters have already been installed. To find out how you can get a smart meter from your energy supplier, pick up a leaflet from your local Post Office branch or visit this page.
Smart Energy GB media contacts
For more information including interview requests, case studies of smart meter users, infographics, photography and video content please contact the Smart Energy GB media team:
Naomi Adams: [email protected]; 0203 019 1056 / 0792 183 6986
Lucy Maggs: [email protected]; 0203 019 1054 / 0774 769 0432