Smart Energy GB and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations team up to spread the word about smart meters

Smart Energy GB, the voice of Britain’s smart meter rollout, has today announced a partnership with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) to reach thousands of social housing tenants across Scotland.

The SFHA is the national representative body for Scotland's housing associations and co-operatives. It represents 120 housing associations, which house more than half a million people in Scotland. This partnership will give housing officers across Scotland the information they need to help their tenants claim their smart meters, and start getting their gas and electricity under control. 

Every home in Scotland and the rest of Great Britain will be offered a smart meter, at no additional cost, by 2020. Smart meters bring an end to estimated bills and show people how much energy they are using in pounds and pence, in near real time. They will also make prepayment for energy cheaper and more convenient.

Smart Energy GB and the SFHA will spread the word to housing officers and their tenants through:

• articles in Housing Scotland monthly magazine, read by 3,000 housing officers
• newsletters and social media promotions reaching almost 10,000 recipients 
• a dedicated smart meter section on the SFHA website
• information at conferences attended by housing officers
• regional workshops to train housing officers working with 15,000 tenants

Sacha Deshmukh, Chief Executive of Smart Energy GB said:

“This partnership with the SFHA will play a vital role in ensuring the smart meter message reaches social housing tenants across Scotland. Smart meters will transform the way people manage and buy their gas and electricity. With more than half a million tenants living in social housing run by SFHA members this partnership could not be more important. 

"Many people living in social housing may not realise that smart meters are for them but the education and training provided by this partnership will help them to understand and enjoy the benefits of this new technology.”

David Stewart, Policy Lead for Energy Efficiency and Fuel Poverty at the SFHA said:

“Fuel poverty is a significant issue for our members and their tenants and housing associations have worked hard to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and provide affordable warmth – our sector now has the most energy efficient homes in Scotland. The rollout of smart meters is a major infrastructure investment and provides significant opportunities to help tenants understand their energy use and access the best available tariffs.  We are determined that our members’ tenants receive the maximum benefit from this opportunity and are delighted to have entered a partnership with Smart Energy GB to ensure our members have the training and knowledge to enable this to happen.”  

 

-ENDS-

 

Notes to editors

Further information about partnering with Smart Energy GB is available 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.

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 3.5 million smart meters have already been installed. To find out how you can get a smart meter from your energy supplier, pick up a leaflet from your local Post Office branch or visit this page.

About the Scottish Housing Federation

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) was established in 1975 and has around 120 members providing affordable housing and wider community services across Scotland, as well as a further 200 commercial associates. The SFHA is owned and governed by its members and exists to lead, represent and support the work of housing associations and co-operatives throughout Scotland, to find out more visit their website.

The SFHA is the voice of the principal builders and managers of new affordable housing for rent in Scotland. Housing associations own and manage around 40 per cent of the country’s affordable rented housing stock, over a quarter of a million homes across Scotland.

Housing associations and co-operatives are not-for-profit bodies regulated by the Scottish Housing Regulator. 

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:

Robbie Hurley: [email protected]; 0203 019 1062 / 07715 653 431