Northern Powergrid (NPg) collaborates with local partners to ensure accessible support for vulnerable communities, especially during the cost-of-living crisis and the shift to a decarbonised society.
Programme Objectives: NPg has commissioned Impact to help support NPg in delivering the following objectives:
- Hosting networking and best practice sharing events.
- Facilitating training partners on energy efficiency and home decarbonisation.
- Developing an intelligence and insight service to share support resources.
- Providing advice on debt, power cuts, winter readiness, and decarbonisation.
- Sharing best practice and case studies.
- Increasing partner access to NPg’s social data to target services and support funding bids.
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Gathering for a greener future. The Partnership Network event hosted by Impact
The latest networking and best practice sharing event took place in Leeds on Wednesday 10th July, attended by over 22 partner organisations. Chris Ralph from Impact led the event, ably supported by a further five Impact moderators to lead the keenly debated break-out sessions spread over six tables.
Sharing insights and knowledge
The main goal of the event was for partners to be better versed on the more technical side of the industry, such as Distribution Systems Operator (DSO) model, upcoming changes, and the commitment to inclusive energy practices ensuring no one is left behind.
Duncan Oliphant, NPg Performance and Integration Manager, began by discussing the challenges of transitioning from a Distribution Network Operator to a Distribution Supply Operator.
Laura Hood from North East Combined Authority detailed their establishment of the Home Energy Advice North East one-stop-shop, designed to assist all households in the North of Tyne with domestic energy retrofits. This initiative offers a trusted, end-to-end solution that supports and promotes sustained action within a cohesive, long-term framework. Laura also outlined the key elements and KPIs of their Local Energy Advice Demonstrator program, which tests various approached to delivering in-person advice, particularly for harder-to-treat properties and harder-to-reach consumer groups.
NPg also shared segmentation research conducted to understand customer views on Low Carbon Technologies (LCTs) and identify those at risk of being left behind. This study categorised NPg customers into five segments based on their attitudes towards LCTS: Passionate, Averse, Cautious, Curious and Disengaged. This segmentation helps provide tailored communications and addresses specific barriers.
In the second half of the day, Maurice Lynch, NPg head of System Flexibility, explained the importance of reducing network pressure through flexibility and its implication for customers.
The event concluded with a ‘Speed-Networking’ session, encouraging partners to connect, learn from each other and build networks to better support their communities.
Key takeaways from the discussions included the mixed familiarity with the DSO transition and flexibility among partners. There is a clear need to educate both partners and the communities they serve about these changes to ensure no one is left behind in the move to net zero.
A resounding success
The event was a resounding success, receiving positive feedback form attendees who gains a deeper technical understanding of the upcoming industry changes. Building on this success, the 2024 Partnership Network programme will host another event in September, focusing on winter preparedness and holistic vulnerability support.
“Very well organised and delivered. Great learning event.”