Help Shape the Future of Community Energy Schemes

Ofgem is inviting members of the public to take part in new user research exploring how renewable energy initiatives can better serve local communities, in both urban and rural areas.

The research aims to understand how renewable energy schemes are experienced on the ground, and how future initiatives can be designed in ways that genuinely reflect people’s needs. By taking part, individuals will have the opportunity to share their views and help shape how community energy schemes are developed and delivered in the years ahead.

Ofgem is particularly keen to hear from people living in a wide range of housing and energy arrangements. This includes households with a standard domestic energy supply, those using pre-payment meters, and people whose circumstances do not fit neatly into traditional domestic models. This could include residents of park homes or houseboats, people living in farmhouses or flats connected to commercial premises, households on authorised Traveller sites, students in purpose-built accommodation, care home residents, or those living in temporary accommodation or self-contained annexes on another person’s land.

In practice, this means the research is open to almost anyone, especially those whose experiences of energy access, billing or connection may be different from the norm and are often under-represented in policy discussions.

By registering an interest, participants can help ensure that future renewable energy schemes are fairer, more inclusive and better aligned with the realities of rural, coastal and non-standard households.

Register your interest in participating in Ofgem’s research here

If you’re interested in how net zero impacts rural communities, join us at our upcoming RSN Member Exclusive seminar on rural net zero next week, find out more here.