10 December 2008 16:32
Elderly vulnerable customers helped by innovative E.ON trial

E.ON, one of the UK's leading electricity and gas companies, has today (WEDNESDAY) announced plans to identity and assist its most vulnerable older customers who may be at risk this winter.

Each year over 20,000 more pensioners die in winter months than any other time of the year¹ as they try and cut back on heating costs.

To help protect its most vulnerable customers E.ON is trialling an Early Warning System to get in touch with people who may be most at risk this winter. Customers identified as being aged 70 or over, on benefits with lower than expected energy use² will be written to in the coming weeks and offered a range of free services as well as an early warning hypothermia thermometer.

Jean Fiddes, Social Manager at E.ON, said: "We are committed to protecting our older vulnerable customers and as the temperature drops this is more important than ever.  By reaching out to 10,000 of our customers most at risk we can make a very real difference.  We have a strong history of offering a range of services for vulnerable customers and this trial comes after the launch of our social product, WarmAssist. We all have a responsibly to help those most in need and it's a responsibility we take very seriously."

The free range of products and services offered include;

• An easy to read hypothermia thermometer;
• A Benefits Entitlement Check to ensure customers are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to;
• Information about E.ON WarmAssist, a social product offering customers over 60 in fuel poverty a 15% discount on E.ON's standard electricity and gas prices.
• Information about E.ON's Age Concern Energy Services product which offers benefits such as additional cold weather payments and free energy efficiency products
• Information about free energy efficiency measures to reduce waste and make homes more comfortable such as cavity wall and loft insulation.

Ends

Notes to editors:

¹ The source is ONS mortality data and the data is for England and Wales

² Compared to the average consumption of customers aged 70 or over and in receipt of benefits

• Age Concern Energy Services

E.ON works with Age Concern Enterprises Ltd to offer an electricity and gas service dedicated to meeting the needs of older people. 

Benefits include:

• A guaranteed annual cold weather payment of £10. Customers over-80 receive £20.
• Gas customers over-60 may also receive an additional payment based on the number of days the temperature falls below freezing between December and February.
• No standing charge, so customers only pay for what they use.
• A free Carbon Monoxide alarm (worth £20), giving an audible warning if the deadly gas is detected in the room (price correct as at October 2008).
• Two free low energy light bulbs to reduce the cost of lighting your home.
• An early warning hypothermia thermometer.
• Energy efficiency information and advice.
• A choice of free gifts, either a PC PowerDown or two more low energy light bulbs plus a selection of discounted energy saving devices.
• A choice of payment options, including monthly Direct Debit, to spread the cost across the year and help you budget.
• UK customer service helpline, connecting you to a person, not a machine.

For every customer who switches to Age Concern Energy Services, E.ON makes an annual contribution to support Age Concern's charitable work.

• Caring Energy Scheme and Fund

E.ON offers the CaringEnergy Helpline where customers can access:

• Free and discounted cavity wall and loft insulation;
• Free energy efficiency advice and home energy audits;
• Free low energy light bulbs to customers on qualifying income related and disability benefits;
• Free Benefits Entitlement Checks to ensure they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to;
• Registration for E.ON's Priority Services Register
• Access to the CaringEnergy Fund

Customers can call the E.ON CaringEnergy Helpline free on 0800 051 1480.

E.ON's CaringEnergy Fund which provides E.ON customers, on a household income of less than £15,460, with financial support to cover the costs of insulation, heating measures, and the replacement of essential household appliances such as fridge/freezers and washing machines.

• E.ON WarmAssist

WarmAssist offers E.ON's most vulnerable fuel poor customers, who are aged 60 or above and in receipt of Pension Credit and in fuel poverty, a 15% discount on its standard electricity and gas prices.

In addition to a 15% discount, WarmAssist will also offer customers:

• Free personalised energy efficiency audits and ongoing energy saving advice;
• Free energy efficiency measures to reduce waste and make homes more comfortable;
• Free Benefits Entitlement Checks to ensure customers are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to;
• Access to E.ON's CaringEnergy Fund which can provide financial support to cover the costs of installing heating systems and essential household appliances such as fridges, freezers and washing machines;
• An Energy Saving Pack complete with energy efficiency advice and two free energy efficient light bulbs;
• Registration for E.ON's Priority Services Register;
• Easy referral to Warm Front and other support arrangements.

Customers who would like to find out more about WarmAssist can call free on 0800 404 6287.

• E.ON is one of the UK's leading power and gas companies - generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas - and is part of the E.ON group, the world's largest investor-owned power and gas company. Our retail business supplies around 8 million electricity and gas customer accounts, covering domestic, SME and industrial. E.ON also offers central heating and boiler care through its Home Energy Services business.

For further information please contact:

LOUISE NOTTAGE at E.ON on 02476 181942 or email louise.nottage@eonenergy.com or ESSI LINDERBORG at E.ON on 02476 180092 or essi.linderborg@eonenergy.com