PEC In Action

Driving Real Action Against Fuel Poverty in Plymouth

Tackling fuel poverty is at the heart of our work. Every day, our Energy Advice Team provides free, practical support to people in Plymouth who are struggling to keep their homes warm and their energy costs manageable. For many residents facing difficult or vulnerable circumstances, this support is more than advice - it’s a lifeline. One careful step at a time, we help people move from crisis towards resilience. 

Over the past year, our team has delivered more than 4,000 advice interventions, giving households the guidance they need to stay safe, warm and informed. 

We also provided short-term crisis support to 1,084 households, including emergency fuel vouchers to help people through their most challenging moments.

Alongside this, we supported residents to access the financial help they are entitled to, resulting in £488,312 in benefits claimed. 

Addressing the root causes of cold, damp and unhealthy homes remains a priority for us. This year, we helped 880 households tackle damp and mould, making their homes healthier and more comfortable. Through supplier mediation, grant schemes and debt write-offs, our energy advisors also helped households reduce their bills with £83,607 taken off energy accounts in total. 

We know that even small changes can make a big difference. That’s why we supplied 757 personal comfort, safety and wellbeing items, including heated blankets, LED bulbs, radiator panels, white goods, air fryers and carbon monoxide alarms. These items help residents keep warm and safe while keeping energy costs low. 

Every client we support gives us deeper insight into the pressures facing our local communities. We continue to see that one in ten residents are in dispute with their energy supplier, which is an incredibly stressful situation for anyone to navigate alone. This year, we resolved 535 supplier issues, working closely with both residents and suppliers to rebuild communication, correct errors and restore trust. 

These outcomes reflect our commitment to reducing fuel poverty and supporting households across Plymouth to live in warm, safe and resilient homes. 

Improving the energy efficiency of local homes, one household at a time

Improving the energy efficiency of Plymouth’s homes is essential for cutting carbon emissions, reducing bills and making homes in the city healthier and more comfortable to live in. Most homes in the city still need energy upgrades or “retrofit” work to reach a decent standard of warmth and efficiency. 

Through our established Future Fit service, we support local residents to understand their options, plan improvements and feel confident about taking the next step to retrofit their homes. 

In the last year alone we:  

 - Enabled 120 households to receive energy efficiency upgrades - from simple measures through to whole-house retrofit. 

 - Secured £831,000 of investment in more energy-efficient ways to heat and power homes, leading to £77,000 of financial savings for residents. 

For us, retrofitting is not just a technical process; it is personal. Our advisors work alongside residents over time, often over many months, to build trust and move them from crisis towards resilience. 

After a home visit from our team:  

 - The share of households who felt confident they could improve the energy efficiency of their home rose from 28% to 88%. 

 - 68% of households went ahead with upgrades after an advice visit. 

By combining high-quality advice, practical measures and trusted local installers, Future Fit is helping to unlock the large-scale retrofit Plymouth needs, while ensuring residents are supported every step of the way. 

People care more about what they can see around them. Locally-owned power generation with visible local benefits makes the transition to a clean energy system tangible for communities.  

By increasing the amount of solar generation owned by the community and using our social enterprise model, we reduce energy costs and keep the profits local, to enable us to help more households.

Our solar portfolio of 30 rooftop sites and our solar farm in Ernesettle are all owned by the community through community shares. 

In 2024 PEC’s renewables portfolio donated £600,000 to support energy advice services and tackle fuel poverty in Plymouth. 

Our rooftop solar school sites can purchase power from us at unit rates 57% lower than the market average. These savings free up vital cash to spend on education and help children reach their potential.

Last year we saved Plymouth schools and community organisations an estimated £189,000 on their energy bills.

Energy can feel a complex and challenging topic. We build skills and confidence through creative activities, aimed at helping embed knowledge and growing understanding of how we can build a fairer energy system.