FREE Energy Experts: New energy efficiency trial launches to upgrade homes, where customers could make simple changes to save up to £260 on bills

• OVO announces a new service with a free visit from an OVO Energy Expert and a report (worth up to £120).

• Service will be available to customers for free advice and support

•  Recent research from the University of Warwick shows that more than £10bn could be saved on energy bills each year if leaky homes were upgraded to higher standards

• 91% of consumers said they wanted more help to bring down energy bills while 76% want new tech to make their homes more efficient.

• OVO will be working with Energy Saving Trust in training and upskilling OVO’s Energy Experts to support customers with the adoption of new green technology.

London, Tuesday 6th December 2022 – New trial launches to upgrade homes and unlock up to £260* of savings for UK households who adopt new efficiency tech and simple behaviour changes.

OVO is today launching an innovative new service, OVO Energy Experts, with the potential to deliver savings of up to £260 per household across the UK. Hundreds of OVO customers in the South West will be invited to take part in the trial from this week. The news follows recent polling which suggests that 88% of people surveyed wanted more help to manage their energy bills, and 76% had it as their number one priority for saving cash in 2023.

While 71% of Brits think that green technology is too complicated or too expensive to adopt, OVO has found that even the most simple energy measures – such as insulation for a hot water cylinder and low energy light bulbs – can cost up to £175 but generate a saving of £135 per year. OVO’s Energy Experts will advise on other energy saving actions – such as draught proofing gaps – which could save £125 per year. In total, customers could save up to £260 by actioning simple measures and behavioural changes, plus receive a free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).

OVO’s Energy Experts will be trained in the latest green technologies so they can provide home upgrade assessments, advising people on the energy efficient measures required to future proof their homes.

The OVO Home Health Report includes:

• Option of a free home visit to assess the steps required to make their home more energy efficient and cut costs.

• Full report and occupancy assessment

• Step by step advice from technicians with no obligation

• Free energy tracker service to help customers understand ways to reduce their energy usage

• A free Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), home visit and report worth up to £120**

The news follows Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industry Strategy Grant Shapps MP’s announcing an extra £1bn will be spent to insulate the UK’s least energy efficient homes. Now more than ever, it’s critical that industry and Government work together to insulate as many homes so that families can stay warmer and cut their energy bills.

Raman Bhatia, CEO of OVO, said: “Families are asking for help to cut costs and decarbonise their homes, and this is where our Energy Experts step in. Our free new service can support many more homes  to unlock the savings that can be made from being more energy efficient this winter. We can’t wait to get started.”

Angela Howarth, director of communications at Energy Saving Trust, said: “We know that finding ways to cut down on energy costs is front of mind for many households this winter and beyond. Improving the energy efficiency of homes can make a big difference to bills, as well as reducing carbon emissions. We’re proud to support OVO’s Energy Experts to provide advice to people around both simple measures such as draught proofing and the adoption of green technologies to help make a lasting impact.”

For more information please visit the OVO blog HERE.

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Notes to Editors

• *Based on a 3 bed, semi detached house taking on:

  • Draught proof gaps: £125 saving per year

  • Hot water cylinder insulation: £70 saving per year

  • Low energy light bulbs: £65 saving per year

• • Total = up to £260 saved.

• ** Up to £120 is based on the average prices our suppliers charge us to provide a similar service to our customers. Prices are correct as of November 2022.

For more information please contact:

[email protected]

About OVO:

OVO was founded in 2009 and redesigned the energy experience to be fair, effortless, green and simple for all customers. OVO was awarded Company of the Decade at the BusinessGreen Leaders’ Awards and has won multiple awards, including Innovation Project of the Year, for investing in the market leading technology, customer service operations and digital products to help customers cut their carbon emissions. OVO is on a mission through its sustainability strategy Plan Zero to tackle the most important issue of our time; the climate crisis, by bringing our customers with us on the journey towards zero carbon living. OVO Energy has committed to being a net zero carbon business and achieve bold science-based carbon reduction targets, while helping customers reduce their household emissions at the same time.

About polling:

Strand Partners’ specialist research team conducted an online survey of 1,025 nationally representative members of the public, online between 6pm Sunday, 27th November and 7am Monday, 28th November 2022. Respondents were selected for representativeness using quotas by age and gender (interlocked) and NUTS 1 regions UK. All data was then weighted against the latest ONS census.

Strand Partners’ online polling studies are accredited by the British Polling Council and conducted under their rules of disclosure. All data gathered is of a publishable quality and is produced within Market Research Society guidelines.

For full data tables and more detail of the methodology, please e-mail: [email protected].