Energy Transactions for Non-Traditional Services (EnTraNTS)

: Consumer spending on energy increased by 55% by 2012, compared to a decade earlier (ONS, 2014), despite falling energy use (largely in response to price hikes between 2004 and 2009) increased energy efficiency and warmer winters (ONS, 2014; DECC, 2015c). By 2011, energy expenditure constituted around 16% of total spending for the lowest decile of the income distribution, partway returning to the peaks (20%) of the 1980s (IFS, 2014). Although fuel poverty has dropped to 10.6% (in 2014) since the financial crisis (DECC, 2016), high energy prices continue to affect fuel poor and vulnerable consumers the most, causing financial anxiety and uncomfortable living conditions.
Our research proposal seeks to investigate why flexibility, functionality and fairness in energy supply systems are unattainable in the traditional 'one-size-fits-all' approach adopted by incumbent energy suppliers. We therefore seek to explore how new and emerging business models can provide these services to all consumers and particularly how technological developments in the industry can be harnessed to address the needs of low-income, fuel poor and vulnerable consumers.
Our project will inform key stakeholders and policymakers by helping them to identify the limitations of traditional business models of energy supply and helping to characterise the required features of innovative forms of transaction necessary to support the transition towards a low-carbon, decentralised energy system. Through this project we will build on this foundation by establishing a network of researchers, policymakers, industry and other stakeholders to enhance our understanding of how innovative energy services, community schemes, contractual arrangements and transactions can be used to support the needs of vulnerable energy consumers. Our ultimate goal is to create links between consumer bodies, industrial and political actors in order support a fair and welfare-enhancing transition to a low carbon UK energy system.

The impact and dissemination activities which we intend to undertake as part of the project include two workshops involving academic researchers, industrial partners, national and local Government bodies, and third party organisations whoa re active in the area of energy consumption, energy technology and fuel poverty.
We also intend to dissemiante our work through a briefing document and publications of research paper in high impact energy related journalssuch as Energy Policy, Energy Research and Social Science, Energy Strategy reviews.
Our proposal will create a platform for the dissemination of network related material and a repository of information on data and evidence sources. A website will be developed as part of the project to promote the project and research vision, research output and events and key information related to the project themes, as well as integrate various multimedia objects (e.g. images and videos taken at events) and create links with popular social media outlets (e.g. Twitter, YouTube, Instagram). We will also produce a high quality briefing document to be circulated at the final event. To support this, we will also create a promotional video of our main findings as an additional medium of communication. In doing so, we aim to make our research accessible and attract interest from key stakeholders such as charities, Government, organisations, who are in a position to create the conditions for the promotion and development of innovative and powerful solutions to the emerging challenges of sustainable and affordable energy.