- Electric Ireland commits to help over 1 million homes and businesses make the changes needed for a brighter energy future
Wednesday, 8th January 2020: Today, Electric Ireland, Ireland’s leading energy provider, officially announced its Brighter Energy Programme to drive awareness and empower customers to maximise energy efficiency. The programme will be supported by the release of new products and services, including a 100% Green Electricity Price Plan. The announcement came at the launch of ‘We’re Brighter Together’, Electric Ireland’s new brand campaign which features Astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield. The campaign is designed to empower customers to make small changes which reduce their energy usage, and, in turn, deliver a brighter energy future.
Electric Ireland commissioned extensive research, designed to address customer wishes and needs, and identified an opportunity to play a leading advisory role in helping business and residential energy users become more efficient in their energy consumption. Some of the survey results* include:
- 73% of those surveyed say they ‘would be willing to change their energy usage behaviours a little to reduce their own carbon footprint’.
- 81% said that they ‘believe energy providers should help people lower their carbon footprint by offering new products and services to help customers use their energy in a more sustainable way’.
- In considering the role that energy companies might play in helping people transition to a greener, lower carbon future, 58% of those surveyed think energy companies should ‘advise on how to reduce the carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency of the home’.
In response to this research, the Electric Ireland Brighter Energy Programme will offer customers practical advice, tips and 'how-to’ videos which will be released throughout the year and available online at the new ‘We’re Brighter Together Hub’ on ElectricIreland.ie/brightertogether. The Electric Ireland Brighter Energy Research Tracker will also monitor, track, and publish bi-annually, on Ireland’s energy literacy. Through education, Electric Ireland aims to enable its customers to make the changes needed to have the biggest collective impact on society. And with the largest customer base in Ireland, over 1.1million, Electric Ireland is in a unique position to help customers have the biggest collective impact.
As part of the Electric Ireland Brighter Energy Programme, Electric Ireland is launching its all-new 100% Green Electricity Price Plan - available to new and existing residential Electric Ireland customers later this month. This affordable plan underpins existing products and services, enabling Electric Ireland customers to make a positive change while retaining great value. Small and medium business customers will also be given the option to move to a Green Price Plan later this month as well.
Speaking at the launch of ‘We’re Brighter Together’, Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director, Electric Ireland said: “We’re acutely aware of what is happening in the world in which we live, and we’ve also listened to our customers. We’re committed to providing them, not only the best value offerings on an ongoing basis, but also an opportunity to contribute to combating climate change. We understand and acknowledge that many customers want to make a difference with their energy decisions.”
She continued: “Our Brighter Energy Programme, along with our 100% Green Electricity Price Plan, is another facet of our company-wide ambition to help Ireland transition to a low carbon future. We believe that change is easy when you know how. We want to facilitate and accelerate that change by sharing information and practical help, empowering our customers to make more informed decisions on their energy usage. The ‘We’re Brighter Together’ campaign is an expression of our collective ambition, and actions, for a brighter energy future.”
Colonel Chris Hadfield, the iconic astronaut who was the first Canadian to walk in space, is central to the new ‘We're Brighter Together’ television commercial, which was launched on December 25th. Hadfield features in the campaign having had the opportunity of seeing Ireland from the International Space Station, experiencing first-hand what the power of collective action can truly achieve.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, he said; “I’ve flown three space missions, commanded the International Space Station, completed two spacewalks, and served as a fighter/engineering test pilot. Throughout my career, there has been one constant – collaboration always results in advancement. Electric Ireland’s Energy Awareness Programme puts power and knowledge directly into people's hands, so that together with family, friends, colleagues and communities, they can collaborate to make a positive impact. Truly we are brighter together."
Electric Ireland offers a host of products that can help home and business owners lower their energy usage – 100% Green Electricity Price Plans, installation of EV chargers for electric vehicles (the only large supplier offering this service), smart heating control systems, solar PV panels and battery storage solutions - as well as continuing with its long-standing discount rate that doesn’t disappear after a year. Electric Ireland also rewards customers with special price plans for those with electric heat pumps, the home heating solution for most new homes. Finally, for those homes that may experience fuel poverty, Electric Ireland’s innovative ‘Energy Saving Scheme’ will make €1.2m available in 2020 to ensure those customers can also be part of the energy revolution.
To be part of the change and to find out more visit www.electricireland.ie/brightertogether
#brightertogether
#bepartofthechange
#brighterenergyfuture
*Nat representative (1500+ adults aged 18+) research conducted by Genesis omnibus survey in November 2019.
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NOTES TO EDITOR
About Electric Ireland
Electric Ireland was launched in 2011 as the retail arm of ESB Group supplying electricity, gas and energy services to the business and residential markets in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Electric Ireland is recognised as Ireland’s leading energy provider, with a mission to create a brighter future for the customers and communities it serves.
Electric Ireland’s products and plans to help conserve, control and save energy and money.
Electric Ireland is bringing sustainable and competitive energy solutions to customers, helping homes and businesses become smarter and more sustainable. Here are a range of products and services designed to help customers make the changes in their own homes and businesses:
Electric Ireland 100% Green Electricity Price Plan
Electric Ireland has announced a 100% green electricity price plan, which will be available later this month to new and existing residential customers. This product provides customers with a guarantee that their energy is sourced from renewable sources. Customers who opt to take this 100% Green Electricity Price Plan will also continue to enjoy a discount rate that will not disappear after year one.
Electric Ireland guarantees that 100% of the electricity supplied under this price plan is sourced from renewable generation, in accordance with the Commission for Energy Regulation’s Green Source Product Verification process.
Electric Ireland SME Green Tariff
Electric Ireland has announced a SME Green Tariff, which will be available to new and existing SME business customers later this month. This product provides customers with a guarantee that their energy is sourced from renewable sources.
Heat Pump Price Plan
Ireland’s only Heat Pump Price Plan, offering customers whose home is heated with heat pump technology the most cost-efficient product in the market.
Energy Efficiency Incentive Scheme
Electric Ireland offers customers an incentive to complete energy efficiency measures within their homes including expert advice and guidance on making homes more environmentally friendly and comfortable; roof insulation, external wall insulation, heating control upgrades, and cavity wall insulation. To date, customers have received over €3.9 million worth of energy credit through the scheme. Over 9,300 customers have enjoyed an average credit on their bill of €412 euro and in total, the scheme has resulted in a total reduction in energy of 46.7 GWh.
Solar Panels
Electric Ireland offers Solar Panels (Solar PV) for customers who want to invest in generating their own electricity. Existing Electric Ireland customers can purchase solar panels and avail of an interest free payment plan spread over 36 months (subject to eligibility criteria).
Battery
Electric Ireland offers fully integrated energy storage solutions which enable users to change the way they manage and control their energy – for instance, storing solar energy during the day for use at night or on dull days.
Remote Heating Controls
Electric Ireland offers a range of heating controls designed to suit different types of homes. Electric Ireland is Google’s exclusive energy partner in Ireland and Electric Ireland customers can have a Google Nest installed in their home to reduce their energy consumption by ensuring the heating is only in use when required. Electric Ireland customers can also avail of a Climote Remote heating smart thermostat installed in their home, which provides full local and remote control of their heating, saving them energy and money.
EV Home Charger
Electric Ireland is Ireland’s premier supplier of Electric Vehicle (EV) Home Chargers, offering expert guidance on charging your EV at home, including professional installation of compact and discreet charging points - making home charging easy.