Supporting the most vulnerable during the energy crisis

9.10-10.10

Implications of the big freeze on bills: Will it be enough to help the most vulnerable households?

Following the announcement of the UK Government’s plans to freeze average energy bills, this session will explore whether this support is sufficient to help offset the impact of the energy crisis for the most vulnerable households.

• Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action (NEA)
• Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Josh Buckland, Director of Flint Global and Senior Fellow Policy Exchange
• Emily Fry, Economist, Resolution Foundation

10.15-11.15

The challenge this winter and the consequences of inaction

This session will focus on giving a voice to those with lived experience of fuel poverty. It will explore the challenges people currently experience and will face this winter, as well as underlining the risks of not responding effectively.

• Chair: Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action (NEA)
• Dominic Watters, Breadline Voices: Food Foundation
• Caroline Rice, lived experience of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland
• Dr Isobel Braithwaite, NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow in Public Health and Housing, UCL Institute of Health Informatics
• Brian Semple, Head of Strategic Partnerships (interim), Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

11.15-11.45

Break

11.45-1.00

Choice of two breakout sessions

Breakout A: Providing effective energy advice – view on YouTube

• Chair: Lesley Tudor-Snodin, Project Development Manager, National Energy Action (NEA)
• Dr Elizabeth Blakelock, Principal Policy Manager, Citizens Advice
• Rachel Jones, Chief Executive, Act on Energy
• Paul Winney, Head of Household Energy Services, CSE
• Laura McGadie, Group Head of Energy, Energy Saving Trust
• Peter Sumby, Director of Operations, National Energy Action (NEA)

Breakout B: Preventing self-disconnection and supporting vulnerable consumers in utility markets – view on YouTube

• Chair: Matt Copeland, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, National Energy Action (NEA)
• Ruth Gripper, Research Impact Manager, Smartline
• John French, Northern Ireland Energy Regulator
• Daniel Alchin, Director of Regulation, Energy UK

1.00-2.15

Break

2.15-3.30

Lower incomes and higher prices: Addressing a debt time bomb

This session aims to explore people’s current financial challenges, which – left alone – will result in a big debt crisis. This needs to be addressed in a co-ordinated and strategic way by practitioners and policymakers. The session also aims to highlight the multiple benefits of tackling debt; improving mental and physical health, well-being, boosting local economies and helping the financial viability of the utility sectors.  

• Chair: Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action (NEA)
• Peter Tutton, Head of Policy, Research and Public Affairs, Stepchange
• Gareth McNab, Director of External Affairs, Christians Against Poverty
• Richard Meade, Director of Carers NI and Scotland, Carers Northern Ireland
• Jess Cook, Project Development Manager (water poverty), National Energy Action

3.30-4.00

Break

4.00-5.15

Increasing levels of funding to help fuel-poor households decarbonise across the nations

This session aims to review progress to date in resourcing energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation programmes and update delegates on the latest developments across the UK nations.

• Chair: Peter Smith, Director of Policy and Advocacy, National Energy Action (NEA)
• Rt Hon Caroline Flint, Chair, Committee on Fuel Poverty
• Olivia Haslam, Deputy Director, Warm Homes team, Portfolio and Affordability, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
• Pat Austin, Director for Northern Ireland, NEA Northern Ireland
• Ben Saltmarsh, Head of Wales, NEA Cymru
• Frazer Scott, Chief Executive, Energy Action Scotland

5.15-6.15

Delivery of good outcomes from delivery partnerships

This session aims to highlight which partnerships work effectively, what needs to work better this winter, and how to unlock best practice.

• Chair: Leonie Cooper AM, London Assembly
• Matthew Cole, Head of Fuel Bank Foundation
• Filipe Amarante, Community Retrofit Manager, National Energy Action (NEA)
• Emily Thompson, Director of Climate Change and Fuel Poverty, Groundwork
• Anees Mank, Programme and Policy Lead, Retrofit, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

6.15-6.30

Round-up and close

• Adam Scorer, Chief Executive, National Energy Action (NEA)