More than £4.2m distributed from voluntary redress scheme

More than £4.2 million in voluntary payments from energy companies has been redistributed in the latest round of the energy redress scheme.

Launched in April 2018 the scheme, managed by the Energy Saving Trust, is funded by voluntary payments made by energy companies found to be in breach of Ofgem rules.

The fifth round of the funding scheme received over 110 applications from charitable organisations.

In total 30 charities have been awarded funds to enable them to deliver projects that provide support to energy consumers in vulnerable situations across Britain.

Projects include trialing new energy efficient technologies in social housing, heating system upgrades and providing energy advice in British Sign Language.

The biggest award went to Groundwork UK.

The charity was awarded more than £636,500 to work with their local trusts in disadvantaged communities to identify, advise and help vulnerable energy customers in most severe need.

Mike Thornton, group director of operations at Energy Saving Trust, said: “It was good to see a wide range of applications for round 5 of the scheme and the successful projects will help to keep thousands of people in vulnerable situations warm and safe in their homes.

“The energy redress scheme is helping a wide variety of charities to support people in vulnerable situations with home energy advice, measures to reduce their fuel bills and through the delivery of innovative energy saving solutions to those most in need.”

A recent notable example of companies paying into the redress fund includes that of Hornsea One Ltd and RWE.

Following last August’s major blackout both companies agreed to pay £4.5 million each into the  fund.

Two new additional funding rounds, with £17 million of funding available, are planned between January and June 2020. Round 6 is planned to open on 22 January and round 7 opens in April 2020.

The full list of charities and amounts they will benefit from