UKPN to use AI to identify thousands facing fuel poverty

UK Power Networks (UKPN) and Energy Systems Catapult (ESC) have announced plans to use artificial intelligence to proactively help up to 100,000 customers in danger of fuel poverty.

The project will see information from the two companies combined, as well as their existing fuel poverty insight, domestic smart meter data and geographical socio-economic statistics.

The AI system, produced by software firm Urban Tide, will combine the datasets into one dashboard, giving an accurate picture of who may need help, especially in areas where people are less likely to come forward and ask for support.

UKPN says it is aiming to help seven times more customers facing fuel poverty than it currently does – rising from 14,000 per year to 100,000.

The project will run until December 2022 and its first steps will be to research and evaluate new data sources, before designing and developing the data science tools to build the dashboard.

Ian Cameron, head of customer services and innovation at UKPN, said: “The pandemic has caused extraordinary challenges and meant hundreds of thousands may enter fuel poverty.

“They might not think to come and ask us for help, and we can’t predict what future challenges might come our way, but what we can do is use new technology to deliver more targeted and higher quality support to those who need it most. That’s exactly what this project is all about.”

Rose Chard, fair future programme lead at ESC, said: “The transition to a smart flexible energy system will provide great opportunities to better understand the trade-offs that households are having to make when struggling to afford adequate energy.

“By drawing on insight about behaviours, as well as smart data, this project pioneers methods that ensure fuel poor households aren’t left behind – by working with them to design support for them.

“This project will ensure that all consumers can benefit from the opportunities of the smart flexible energy future.”