Reduce Your Use energy efficiency campaign launches for winter

The campaign supports households to actively manage their energy use, and in doing so, reduce their costs and carbon emissions.

The government has launched the next phase of its Reduce Your Use campaign, supporting people to manage their energy use, help save money and reduce carbon emissions.

Recent research carried out by Amárach Research on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has shown that the level of worry about energy costs remains high amongst the public, with energy bills a source of cost pressure for many households.

Further research from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) identifies the most common high-energy consumption behaviours. These include setting heating thermostats too high, using tumble dryers frequently, or heating unoccupied rooms.

The research informs the department’s multi-platform advertising campaign, Reduce Your Use, which supports people to manage their energy use and become more active participants in the energy transition.

Speaking about the campaign, Minister Eamon Ryan said:

The Reduce Your Use campaign outlines:

• practical advice to help people manage their energy use
• supports that are available to those people having trouble paying their energy bill
• advice on their consumer rights

The campaign is working with key partners including ALONE and MABS, to ensure that those most vulnerable to energy costs continue to get the support and information they need to stay warm and well.

Consumer Sentiment and Reported Behaviour Research

A key component of the Reduce Your Use campaign strategy is to ensure that Government is actively listening to Irish people; understanding and responding to their needs and concerns to determine the most useful advice and information in relation to the evolving energy situation. To ensure this is achieved, quantitative research is carried out by Amárach on a monthly basis. A nationally-representative group is surveyed to test response to messaging and consumer sentiment.

Behavioural Energy and Travel Tracker

The SEAI Behavioural Energy and Travel Tracker (BETT) is a monthly online survey that gathers thorough, accurate and granular data about the everyday energy behaviours of people in Ireland.

Partnerships and collaborations

The Reduce Your Use campaign emphasises how Government, households, motorists, communities and businesses can all work together to reduce energy demand.

In addition to government departments, State energy agencies such as the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), SEAI, EirGrid, ESB Networks, Gas Networks Ireland and others are partnering in this campaign, and will provide information about the specific supports and advice they can provide.

Campaign messaging also includes signposting to support and services available through organisations such as ALONE, SEAI, CRU and MABS. Collaborating with these organisations help us reach at-risk cohorts effectively and are an essential and invaluable resource. Our partnership with ALONE includes a phone helpline to ensure that those seeking support and information in relation to energy use can access it easily without going online.

Information on government supports and how to save money and energy is available at gov.ie/ReduceYourUse.

ESB Networks’ ‘Beat the Peak’ initiative

Running alongside the Reduce Your Use campaign is ESB Networks’ ‘Is this a good time?‘ programme as part of the ‘Beat the Peak’ initiative. This initiative encourages and empowers residential and commercial customers to reduce and take control of their energy consumption at peak times.

Reducing electricity usage during peak demand times has a positive benefit for energy security and for sustainability by shifting usage when electricity may be more expensive, more carbon intensive and less secure. This campaign complements the whole-of-government messages in the Reduce Your Use campaign and is another important partner in Ireland’s transition to a carbon neutral energy system by 2050.

Government and agency supports

The campaign highlights the range of government and agency supports for households and businesses. These supports include:

• three electricity credits of €150 that will be applied to domestic electricity bills; one before Christmas and one each in the January/February and March/April billing cycles
• VAT on electricity and gas will stay at 9% until 31 October 2024

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has announced moratoriums on disconnections for all domestic electricity and gas customers for the coming winter. The moratorium for customers registered as being particularly vulnerable will cover a six-month period from 1 October 2023 until 31 March 2024. The moratorium for all domestic customers has been extended again this year from 1 December 2023 until 31 January 2024.

For more information about the moratoria, and other consumer protections, please visit the CRU website.

• if you are experiencing difficulty paying energy bills, or are worried about being disconnected, please talk to your supplier
• for advice and information on consumer rights, call CRU 1800 404 404
• if you are over 60 and worried about energy bills or facing other difficulties, call ALONE on 0818 222 024
• if you are struggling with other debts on top of energy bills and need help with repayment plans, call MABS 0818 07 2000
• for grants related to home energy upgrades for those at risk, visit www.seai.ie/reduceyouruse
• tips and advice on staying warm while saving energy, plus information on all supports available can be found at gov.ie/ReduceYourUse

SEAI practical tips:

Energy efficiency advice within the campaign is provided by experts at the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). It is practical and evidenced-based, detailing what actions can help to save the most money and energy. The advice to help lower your energy bills targets three key areas:

• lower the thermostat by 1° or down to 19° if possible
• limit the use of energy intensive appliances like tumble dryers where you can
• ensure heating is turned off in rooms not in use

Further tips and information will be available on the SEAI website.

Energy Security in Ireland to 2030

In November, the government published the ‘Energy Security in Ireland to 2030’ report, which outlines a new strategy to ensure energy security in Ireland for this decade, while ensuring a sustainable transition to a carbon-neutral energy system by 2050.

The Reduce Your Use campaign is one of Government’s specific electricity demand-reduction measures, alongside the ESB-Networks’ Beat the Peak scheme and the introduction of peak tariffs by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU).

These programmes are encouraging people all across Ireland to change their behaviours to be responsive to system stress at peak times, and the variability of a renewables-led system. This is a really important part of addressing Ireland’s energy security challenges and ensuring that we transition effectively to an energy system based on indigenous renewable electricity.