In January we held an Energy Awareness Conference in association with Consumer Focus. The event brought advice agencies and energy suppliers together to discuss consumer support and protection. The slides and the report is available below.
We’ve had some great feedback and are beginning to consider how we can continue to develop these relationships, including through the formation of an advice agency group that meets regularly with the industry to discuss issues and how to strengthen processes to help consumers. Please email admin@z2k.org if you are interested in participating in the group.
Presentation slides for the Energy Awareness Conference 2011 are now available here:
- Consumer Focus – securing a fair deal for energy customers
- Ofgem – protecting vulnerable customers
- Charis Grants Limited – understanding energy trust funds
- Charis Grants Limited – understanding energy trust funds
- EDF Energy – Safe, warm and well
- 6_Energy Ombudsman_Resolving consumer disputes
The report on the conference is available for download: Energy Awareness Conference flyer.
Energy Awareness Conference 2011
As the current economic climate continues to hit families on the lowest of incomes, advice agencies are increasingly helping their clients to tackle energy related debts and disputes. Yet, the constant changes in the structure of the energy industry can make it impossible for advice agencies to keep up with developments, and more importantly to know how best to deal with their clients’ problems.
On 25th Jan 2011, we held the Energy Awareness Conference aimed to clear up this widespread confusion by introducing advice agencies to the energy industry as whole, looking comprehensively at how customers are supported and protected from top to bottom.
We heard from two suppliers, British Gas and EDF, who discussed how best to work with them to resolve customers’ problems when things go wrong, and also what help and support is available from their organisation to make things a little easier for its most vulnerable customers.
Following the presentations, delegates had the opportunity to put their questions to the speakers and seek answers to the issues that affect their clients most, in our interactive “Question Time” panel session.
Please contact Lilian Lee at 020 7259 0801 or admin@z2k.org if you would like to be kept informed about our plans for a 2012 Energy Awareness Conference. In the meantime, the conference report is on its way and presentation slides are available here. Do email admin@z2k.org if you would like a copy of the conference report.
Date : Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Venue: RPC LLP, Tower Bridge House, St. Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1AA.
Chair : Joanna Kennedy, Chief Executive of Z2K
Speakers:
Audrey Gallacher, Head of Energy at Consumer Focus
Claire Tyler, Head of Social Policy at Ofgem
Allyson Broadhurst, Chief Executive of Charis Grants Limited
Christine Tate, Head of Corporate Responsibility at British Gas
Valentine Mulholland, Energy Policy Manager at EDF Energy
Dr Richard Sills, Energy Ombudsman at the Energy Ombudsman Service
The Programme:
2:00 p.m. Registration and refereshments
2.30 p.m. Introduction and welcome – Joanna Kennedy, Z2K
2.35 p.m. Securing a fair deal for energy customers – Audrey Gallacher, Consumer Focus
2.55 p.m. Protecting vulnerable customers at the regulatory level – Claire Tyler, Ofgem
3.15 p.m. Understanding energy trust funds – Allyson Broadhurst, Charis Grants Limited
3.35 p.m. Tea and coffee break
3.50 p.m. Looking after your world – Christine Tate, British Gas
4.10 p.m. Safe, warm and well – Valentine Mulholland, EDF Energy
4.30 p.m. Introduction to the Energy Ombudsman Service
– Dr Richard Sills, Energy Ombudsman Service
4.50 p.m. Question Time – interactive panel discussion.
Send your questions via e-mail when you RSVP to this invite
5.30 p.m. Reception and canapés