British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) partners with Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB, the voice of Britain’s smart meter rollout, has today announced a partnership with the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD).

BILD works with around 850 member organisations, helping them and their employees to provide the best possible support to people with learning disabilities. This partnership is part of Smart Energy GB’s national campaign to ensure that everyone across England, Scotland and Wales knows how to get a smart meter and use it in their home to bring their energy under control. As the leading body in its field, BILD will work with its member organisations to ensure that the people they support get the right information, in the most accessible way, so they can understand and benefit from the smart meter rollout.  

Every household will have the opportunity to upgrade to a smart meter, at no additional cost, by 2020.  Smart meters will bring an end to estimated bills and show us how much energy we’re using in near real time and in pounds and pence.  There are particular benefits for prepayment customers, who will no longer have to top up at a shop or pay a premium for this payment method.

As part of this partnership:

•    BILD member organisations will receive regular communications on the smart meter rollout and how to spread the word with the people they support
•    Five smart meter champion organisations will receive specialist training to spread the word further through the network
•    Accessible materials, for example easy-to-read leaflets, will be produced

Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB said:

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with BILD. As the trusted voice for organisations working with people with learning disabilities, we need their help to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from a smart meter. Our job at Smart Energy GB is to reach everyone in Britain, but we know that some people may need extra support to learn about and use smart meters. Our partnership with BILD will make a huge difference to the numbers of people with learning disabilities who will be able to use them to get their gas and electricity under control.”

Ben Higgins, Chief Executive of BILD, said:
“A change that can affect every household is coming, so it’s vital that people with learning disabilities get the right information in the right way so they can understand how it might affect them. That’s why we’re very happy to be working with Smart Energy GB to make sure that the smart meter rollout happens in a way that works for people with learning disabilities.”

Working in partnership with organisations across Great Britain is at the heart of Smart Energy GB’s approach to reach every home and micro-business with information about how they can get and benefit from having smart meters installed. Whether working with national organisations, supporting small local groups, or partnering with major brands to bring the smart meter experience to life, Smart Energy GB and its partners know that meaningful conversations led by trusted charities, brands and people will be a critically important part of engaging everyone.

-ENDS-

Notes to editor

Further information about Smart Energy GB’s Partnership Programme can be found here.

About Smart Energy GB

Smart Energy GB is the voice of the smart meter rollout. It’s our task to help everyone in Great Britain understand smart meters, the national rollout and how to use their new meters to get their gas and electricity under control. Our national campaign has already begun and will reach all households and microbusinesses in England, Scotland and Wales. For more information visit our website www.smartenergyGB.org

About smart meters and the rollout

Smart meters will replace the traditional meters we currently have in our homes. They will provide consumers with accurate bills, near real time information on energy usage in pounds and pence, and greater control over their gas and electricity. The smart meter rollout is an essential technology upgrade, unprecedented in its scale, to improve Great Britain’s energy infrastructure. Between now and 2020, everyone across England, Scotland and Wales will be offered a smart meter by their energy supplier at no extra cost. More than three million smart meters have already been installed. To find out how you can get a smart meter from your energy supplier please visit www.smartenergyGB.org/get-a-smart-meter


Smart Energy GB media contacts

For more information including interview requests, case studies of smart meter users, infographics, photography and video content please contact the Smart Energy GB media team:

Janqui Mehta: [email protected]; 0203 019 1063/07715 665 112