Energy switching for people on low incomes
This project looked at a major factor leading to poverty – domestic energy expenditureIn partnership with A Moveable Feast, Age UK Kensington & Chelsea, Nucleus Legal Advice Centre and Kensington & Chelsea Community Enterprises CIC, this project looked at whether supporting people to better understand the domestic energy market would result in people changing their suppliers or tariffs, and therefore reduce their household expenditure, and thereby alleviate a factor that can lead to poverty.
Research methods
The project used a participatory action research method and community researchers. 151 households took part and concluded that the provision of independent tariff advice does indeed have better outcomes than the deals that people would find on their own.
Kensington & Chelsea Community Enterprises collaborated on this project and the project report is available on their website.
The project commenced in 2012 and was completed in 2013. It has been carried out by academics from our School of Health and Social Care who are carrying out research under the theme of Community and Public Health.
The funding body for this project is the Inner North-West London Primary Care Trusts (INWL), now People First.
Members of the LSBU project team are: Prof Nicola Robinson and Dr Ava Lorenc. Other academics can be found by searching our People Finder.