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Research commissioned by Ireland’s leading energy provider; Electric Ireland highlights increase in consumer desire to make positive changes to their energy behaviour.

89% of consumers looking to energy providers to actively help them make those changes.

Electric Ireland, Ireland’s leading energy provider, has today published research that highlights Irish consumers are continuing to make the shift towards a more sustainable lifestyle. The most recent research results from the Electric Ireland Brighter Energy Research Tracker show a significant increase in consumers’ willingness to make positive energy usage changes, even with the impact of Covid-19, and an expectation that their energy company should play a key role in advising them on the move towards a low carbon future:

• • 85% of those surveyed say they ‘would be willing to change their energy usage behaviours a little to reduce their own carbon footprint’. (increased 12% since January 2020: 73%)
  • 89% 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’. (increased 8% since January 2020: 81%)
  • In considering the role that energy companies might play in helping people transition to a greener, lower carbon future, 89% of those surveyed think energy companies should ‘advise on how to reduce the carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency of the home’. (increased 31% since January 2020: 58%) 

The Electric Ireland Brighter Together Energy Programme launched earlier this year supports homes, businesses and communities to collectively contribute towards Ireland’s transition to a low carbon future. A new initiative as part of the programme will see Electric Ireland partner with leading Electric Vehicle (EV) retailer Nissan Ireland on a new offer to encourage EV adoption. Every purchase of a new Nissan LEAF, LEAF Van or e-NV200, will come with a free Electric Ireland EV home charger. Electric Ireland will fit the charger when customers switch to its 100% green electricity price plan, which comes with the additional benefit of an enduring discount of up to 8.5% off Electric Ireland’s standard unit rates. The offer will be available across all Nissan Ireland dealerships nationwide launching November 16th.

Marguerite Sayers, Executive Director, Electric Ireland said:

“At Electric Ireland we’ve seen first-hand the power and positivity that can be generated when we all come together, something that is reflected in every home, business and community, and in all the causes and codes we support. We also know our customers are looking to make sustainable choices and they want their energy provider to lead the way. Through the continuation of our Brighter Together Energy Programme, which sees the announcement of our new climate-conscious partnership with EV retailer Nissan Ireland, we will add to our suite of products and services designed to help our customers lower their carbon footprint. The options for customers, all of which can have a positive climate-change impact, extend from remote home heating controls to our 100% green electricity plan. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought home to all of us the power of collective action and if we mobilise our million plus customer base to take just one new sustainable action, we know we can truly create a brighter energy future for everyone.”

As well as this new initiative with Nissan Ireland launching on November 16th, Electric Ireland continue to offer customers:

• Ireland’s only Heat Pump Price Plan with a cheaper unit rate for customers with a heat pump in their homes.
• A range of Remote Heating Controls to help reduce energy consumption.
• Access to an Energy Efficiency Incentive Scheme which provides incentives to complete energy efficiency measures within the home (over €4.2 million worth of energy credit has been redeemed through the scheme to date) and;
• A wealth of educational energy saving content and advice on the Electric Ireland Brighter Together hub.

Finally, for those homes that may experience fuel poverty, Electric Ireland’s dedicated Energy Saving Scheme has made €1.2m available in 2020 to support community programmes aimed at improving the energy efficiency of homes at risk of fuel poverty.

To be part of the change and to find out more visit www.electricireland.ie/brightertogether