Utilities partnership

Thank you for attending our webinar: ‘Through the looking glass: Impact of the cost of living crisis on disabled people’.

Download transcript of the webinar (Word 160KB)

We heard from speakers on how disabled people are being directly affected by the current crisis. And we shared:

• our recommendations to support disabled people this winter
• the importance of working in partnership with the utility sector, providing support and advice to disabled people

We know that life costs more if you're disabled.

Even before the crisis, disabled people faced an average extra cost of £583 a month. This could be due to higher energy usage because of the need to:

• charge equipment
• use more heating due to a condition

This has only worsened with the crisis.

We have used the following to come up with recommendations for government, regulators and energy and water companies.

This included data from:

• our energy and benefit support services
• focus groups
• polling
• analysis of government data

The evidence collected shows how disabled people and families are facing the brunt of the cost of living crisis. Disabled people are being forced to make decisions nobody should have to make.

The Government has promised further help and cost of living payments for disabled people but this will not be until April 2023 at the earliest. But disabled people cannot wait!

At Scope, we are supporting disabled people with their utility needs by offering:

• online advice and support on gas, electricity and water
• giving energy and water advice over the telephone and by email

Refer your customers for energy and water advice

Our referral partner page includes useful information and resources to share with your customers and within your communications.

Visit our energy support resources page

For more information on how your organisation can support disabled people through our Disability Energy Support with water advice service, contact utilities@scope.org.uk.

At Scope, we are supporting utility companies to lead on transformational change across the sector to provide better outcomes and equality for disabled people and their families.

For utility companies to better understand the challenges faced by disabled people. Members will work closely with Scope to:

• improve information gathering to develop solutions around the needs and barriers faced by disabled customers
• increase employee awareness to enable them to better support disabled people
• co-create, trial and showcase innovation and better ways of working
• provide evidence to inform change in government, regulatory and business policy
• create accessible utility services for all
• raise awareness of the support available to disabled people and their families. Enabling them to reduce their extra costs and benefit from services such as the Priority Services Register
• champion change across the sector to become inclusive employers

Download SUM annual report 2022 (PDF 1MB).

For further information on how your organisation can join our membership, contact utilities@scope.org.uk.

Scope supports businesses with disability inclusion. We want a society where all disabled staff, jobseekers and consumers have equal access. But we also understand the challenges businesses have with accessibility and inclusion.

We have created resources and services to support organisations become inclusive for their disabled employees and customers.

Scope: business services