Energy Retail Association

The Energy Retail Association (ERA), formed in 2003, is a trade association to promote the interests of the main electricity and gas retailers in the domestic market in Great Britain.

Introduction

The ERA is located in Westminster, London and is headed by the Chief Executive, Dr Garry Felgate. He is given high level direction from a Board made up of the Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors of the six member companies.

All the main energy retailers operating in the domestic market in Great Britain are members of the association:

• EDF Energy
• British Gas
• RWE nPower
• Scottish and Southern Energy plc
• Scottish Power
• E.ON Powergen

The ERA has stated that it is focused on finding ways to improve customers’ experiences with their electricity and gas suppliers^{[citation needed]}. This means that it addresses issues such as^{[citation needed]}:

• Tackling fuel poverty and protecting vulnerable customers
• Delivering energy efficiency schemes
• Ensuring good sales practice
• Developing hassle-free systems for changing electricity or gas supplier
• Developing industry standards for customer billing
• Preventing debt and disconnections

Fuel poverty

The definition of fuel poverty is a household that spends more than 10% of its income on heating and lighting. Approximately 3 million households in Britain suffer from fuel poverty^{[citation needed]}.

Fuel poverty is caused by a combination of factors including:

• Low income, which is often linked to absolute poverty
• High fuel prices, including the use of relatively expensive fuel sources (such as electricity in the UK, aggravated by higher tariffs for low-volume energy users)
• Poor energy efficiency of a home, e.g. through low levels of insulation and old or inefficient heating systems
• Under-occupancy: according to UK government statistics, on average those in the most extreme fuel poverty live in larger than average homes

Since 1996, 2.5 million people have been taken out of fuel poverty through the efforts of energy suppliers working with social welfare organisations.

UK Fuel Poverty Strategy (2001) set a target for Government to seek to end fuel poverty by 2016 and take all vulnerable households out of fuel poverty by 2010.

Vulnerable customers

The ERA launched the Home Heat Helpline (0800 33 66 99) in October 2005. It is a free, not-for-profit national helpline for people having difficulties paying their fuel bills. The Home Heat Helpline offers callers advice on cheaper payment schemes, grants for insulating their homes, how to get on to the Priority Services Register for extra services and information on extra government benefits that you may be entitled to. More information can be found on the Home Heat Helpline website.

See also

• Association of Electricity Producers
• Energy Networks Association
• Consumer Focus
• Energy Retail Association website
• Home Heat Helpline website