Rising energy costs are pushing an estimated 1 in 4 UK households into fuel poverty. We need a fast and scalable way of deploying energy support to a growing number of vulnerable households.
Challenge
Since the last two censuses, Dartford and Dover have experienced substantial population growth. Dartford’s population grew almost 20% and Dover’s 65-74 age group grew 26%, while residents aged 35-49 years fell 13%.
This presents a new and growing challenge for these two councils: A rapidly growing population and an ageing population that’s more vulnerable to the effects of living in a cold and damp home.
In 2023, Dartford and Dover councils were collectively awarded £2,070,000 in Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) - a government grant to fund energy-efficiency home upgrades.
They needed a way they could quickly and efficiently distribute this support to the right households so they could serve the growing number of fuel-poor households in need.
Approach
Using our AI-powered fuel poverty predictor, uZero, Dartford Borough Council and Dover Disctrict Council are now able to easily map, identify and predict which households in their constituencies are most in need of energy-efficiency support.
uZero integrates smart metre data with other cross-sector datasets related to health, housing and other demographic data to build a clear interactive heatmap of the areas in – or most at risk of falling into – fuel poverty.
Mapping out fuel-poor households in this way gives Dartford and Dover councils the insights they need to know where to prioritise distribution of the HUG2 grant so resources are focused in the right places.
This strategy has proven so effective that these councils won an award to recognise their success at rolling out energy-efficiency schemes within their communities.
Results
£2m
Dartford and Dover were awarded £2,070,000 in funding to roll out energy-efficiency schemes to their communities.
<1%
Prior to using uZero, these councils would expect less than 1% response rate on energy-efficiency campaigns.
+34%
Engagement in energy efficiency campaigns increased from <1% to as much as 34% when these councils began using uZero
Mapping out local smart meter and cross-sector datasets in real-time allows Dartford and Dover Councils to provide targeted support to a growing number of households in fuel poverty.
Our partnership and shared vision
Dartford and Dover Council is the first local authority partnership in Kent to be using uZero. One year into our collaboration, and the results are extremely encouraging.
In the near future, we'll be looking at connecting fuel poverty data with health data in order to map social regeneration and improvements in population health as a result of the councils' energy-efficiency campaign Together, we're taking strides to accelerate Kent's transition to net zero.
About this key council partnership
Although geographically disconnected, Dartford Borough and Dover District Councils have entered an award-winning partnership promoting and installing energy efficiency measures throughout their communities.
In March 2024, these councils collectively won the Local Authority Body of the Year award for the second year running for the work they’re doing in rolling out energy-efficiency schemes to fuel-poor households.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.
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