The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has secured funding from National Grid’s Grid for Good Energy Affordability Fund to dramatically expand support for people in fuel poverty and vulnerable circumstances across England and Wales.

The funding will enable us to reach thousands of people who would otherwise be unable to access specialist advice on reducing energy costs and benefiting from smart energy technologies.

Expanding support across five key areas

CSE will use the National Grid funding to:

Extend national reach of fuel poverty advice – Personalised support will now be available to people who can’t afford their heating across England and Wales, helping them reduce bills and access available support.

Scale up Smart Energy Action Plans nationwide – CSE’s specialist Smart Energy Action Plans (SMEAPs) help people understand and benefit from technologies like heat pumps, solar panels and smart tariffs, ensuring they can participate in the transition to a greener and smarter energy system.

Improve digital self-serve support – Enhanced online resources will make it easier for people to access advice when and how they need it.

Launch an Enabling Works fund – This new fund will pay for minor works that unlock access to major grant-funded energy efficiency improvements, helping remove barriers that currently prevent people from benefiting from programmes that could significantly lower their bills and improve home comfort.

Establish an Energy Support Network – A new training and capacity-building programme will equip other energy advice providers with the skills to deliver smart energy advice, improving support available nationally.

About the Grid for Good Energy Affordability Fund

The Grid for Good Energy Affordability Fund is a £10.5 million, three-year programme from National Grid supporting people in vulnerable circumstances who are struggling with energy costs. This second phase of funding, worth £2.3 million, builds on the success of the initial £1.2 million allocation in February 2025 and will support more than 16,000 people across England and Wales through partnerships with expert charities and frontline delivery organisations.

National Grid is working with several partner organisations including Citizens Advice, Affordable Warmth Solutions, Fuel Bank Foundation, National Energy Action, National Energy Foundation and Centre for Sustainable Energy to deliver practical assistance, advice and relief to homes most affected by rising energy costs.

How a Smart Energy Action Plan helped Shelley unlock hidden income from her solar panels

When Shelley had solar panels installed through a Green Homes Grant, she thought that was the end of the story. The panels were generating electricity and her energy bills had reduced. But Shelley had no idea she could be earning money by selling her surplus solar energy back to the grid – until she received a home visit from CSE as part of the Smart Energy Action Plan (SMEAP) project.

During the visit, CSE’s retrofit assessor Lorna discovered that whilst Shelley’s solar panels had been installed months earlier, she had no idea how much electricity they were generating or how much she was using. Lorna helped her find the inverter in her loft, identify its brand, download the Soliscloud app and contact her installer for support with set-up. Now that Shelley could monitor her generation, Lorna gave advice on how to maximise the benefit of this free electricity by shifting her energy use to match her generation.

Lorna also realised that no one had explained to Shelley that she could sign up for an export tariff and get paid for unused electricity. “Without our visit, she could have gone on for years not knowing she was entitled to these payments,” said Lorna.

During the home visit, Lorna provided clear, tailored advice on how export tariffs work under the Smart Export Guarantee scheme, what rate Shelley could expect (around 15p per kilowatt-hour) and step-by-step guidance on how to apply.

Within days, Shelley had submitted her application. “Thank you so much for all your help and advice,” Shelley wrote to Lorna. “I now have applied for the solar export tariff.” CSE estimates this will save Shelley an additional £300 off her electricity bills over the next year.

“This is exactly what Smart Energy Action Plans are designed to do,” explains Karn Shah at CSE. “We help people navigate the complexity of smart energy technologies so they can actually benefit financially. Without this support, people miss out on significant savings and income opportunities.”

Thanks to funding from National Grid’s Grid for Good Energy Affordability Fund, CSE can now provide Smart Energy Action Plans to thousands more people across England and Wales.