19 December 2008 15:21
E.ON tops Ofgem’s table with highest social spend per customer

E.ON, one of the UK leading electricity and gas companies, has today (Friday) welcomed a new Ofgem report which reveals that E.ON spent more per customer account on its social programme than any of the other main energy suppliers.

The report, called ‘Monitoring Suppliers' Social Programmes¹, reveals that, per customer account, E.ON outspends all of its major rivals in 2007-08.

Graham Bartlett, Managing Director of E.ON's Retail business, said: "We've always taken our commitment to helping our most vulnerable customers extremely seriously and it's reassuring to be recognised by Ofgem as spending the most per customer account.

"It's especially heartening as we've just made our social programme even better by launching  WarmAssist, a new social product which sits alongside our extensive social programme to which we've committed at least £56m over the next three years."

Earlier this year, E.ON became one of the first suppliers to ensure that it had removed the surcharge for both electricity and gas prepayment meter customers and recently announced it hopes to reduce prices for its customers as soon as it is able next year, as long as wholesale electricity and gas prices continue to fall. 

E.ON also revealed the expansion of its existing social programme with the launch of ‘E.ON WarmAssist' on 1^st December 2008.  This offers E.ON's most vulnerable fuel poor customers, who are aged 60 or above and in receipt of Pension Credit, a 15% discount on its standard electricity and gas prices².

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

• Free personalised energy efficiency audits and ongoing energy saving advice;
• Free energy efficiency measures to reduce waste and make homes more comfortable. These include free installed cavity wall and loft insulation saving £370³;
• 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; and
• 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.

Ends

Notes to editors:

^{1 http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?file=Monitoring%20Suppliers%20Social%20Spend%20171.08.pdf&refer=Sustainability/SocAction/Suppliers/CSR}

² As a guide, single occupancy energy payments should be at least £60 a month and for double occupancy they should be at least £80 a month.  This enables E.ON to assist its most vulnerable customers in fuel poverty.  WarmAssist is only available to households with one or two occupants;

³ The £370 saving over a one year period is made up from increasing your loft insulation from 25mm to 250mm and installing cavity wall insulation.  The cost savings shown are approximate, are provided for illustrative purposes only and are based on a gas heated semi-detached house with three bedrooms. Saving assumes a gas price of 3.56p/kWh with a 15% WarmAssist discount with a gas consumption of 31,700 units per annum (prior to installing the insulation measures). Individual savings may vary depending on type, age, main heating fuel of your home or if you choose to take increased warmth following installation of the measures. We only use mineral wool to insulate cavity walls. All prices are correct at the time of announcement.

• WarmAssist is available for existing dual fuel customers and single electricity customers without mains gas;
• E.ON is currently developing a prepayment meter version of WarmAssist which will offer customers a rebate which would reflect the WarmAssist discount. Further details will be announced;
• To help protect its most vulnerable customers E.ON is trialling an innovative 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 use will be contacted in the coming weeks and offered a free early warning hypothermia thermometer and the range of free advice and services that form E.ON's social programme;
• 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. We employ around 17,000 people in the UK;
• E.ON's retail business is a leading energy supplier in the UK with around 5.5 million electricity and gas customers, covering domestic, SME and industrial. E.ON also offers central heating and boiler care.

For more information please contact:

Victoria Blake on 02476 181 304

Jag Kahlon on 02476 181 308

Louise Nottage on 02476 181 942

Essi Linderborg 02476 180 092

Joanne Smalley on 02476 180 173