EDF is contacting over 100,000 of its most vulnerable customers in order to outline the support packages available. These include using smart prepayment meters - that allow customers to top up energy from anywhere and track usage - to help beat the price cap by up to £100, as well as launching a new Fresh Start campaign, designed to support those with existing debt who are not able to repay the costs.
EDF is also helping customers to have more control over their energy usage with its free Energy Hub - a platform that can give real time insights into energy usage and show how customers can create savings. Those with a smart meter will be able to join the nearly half a million customers already using the Hub to save up to £100 on their bills. Sign-ups for this platform are increasing year on year, showing how customers are using it to help manage costs.
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This comes on top of help announced earlier this year that saw the energy provider double customer support to £10 million. In addition to this, £20 million of funding was brought forward to insulate homes across the UK and customers were helped to identify £3.6million of additional financial aid they were entitled to, with the help of partner Income Max.
Philippe Commaret, Managing Director for Customers at EDF, commented: "As a business we are facing many challenges due to the rise in wholesale energy costs, but our main priority remains our customers. We are aware these new measures won't solve these issues, but hope that they can provide the vital support needed for the most vulnerable.
"This is why we see it as our responsibility to reach out to customers to ensure that those that need help most are aware of all of the options and packages available to them. Our free Energy Hub, for example, could provide a customer with the guidance they need to start their journey towards cutting down their bills."
However, the problem cannot be solved by energy providers working in isolation - the Government must act now. EDF is calling on the current Government, as well as the two Conservative leadership candidates, to work together with the industry to find solutions that will support the most vulnerable customers as they enter the winter months.
Broader Government-funded energy efficiency programmes will be vital to help reduce household energy bills permanently. Customers need to feel reassured that help is coming, and therefore this must be a top priority for decision makers across the country.
Commaret continued: "Despite ongoing uncertainty, the Government must step up and play a key role to help combat these challenges. Without this support, things will only worsen for already struggling customers, something we need to avoid at all costs."
