OREANDA-NEWS. November 14, 2012. SSE, the UK’s second largest energy supplier, has begun the roll-out of ‘Smart Services’ - a new community based energy adviser service. Smart Services will initially be trialled in South Wales and Central / Northern Scotland, and involve a team of around 60 energy advisers. Ultimately, this business could result in the creation of several hundred new jobs across the UK.

The new, free service is available to both customers and non-customers. It provides an opportunity for householders to reduce the amount they spend on energy, be more efficient in their use of energy and implement a range of measures that improve the energy efficiency of their property. The team will draw on previous experience gained through the Energy Demand Research project carried out by SSE in North Leigh, Oxfordshire between 2007 and 2010 during which a directly employed and locally based energy adviser helped the village cut its energy consumption by 10%1.

Community Based

All advisers are locally based and as well as visiting consumer’s homes, will be very visible in the communities in which they operate. They will attend community events and offer energy advice to interested people in public areas. The aim is to create long-term and highly valued relationships with communities and consumers.

Qualified and highly trained

All Smart Services energy advisers are City and Guilds qualified in energy awareness and will have undergone more than six weeks training before they begin providing advice to consumers.

Appointment only

All energy advisers are salaried and directly employed by SSE. They will operate on a strictly face-to-face appointment only basis and will visit homes only with the prior agreement of the resident and with the purpose of having a conversation with the consumer about their energy needs. A home visit will also include simple, personalised advice on all aspects of energy in the home, giving suggestions on no-cost energy efficiency measures and longer-term investment options. A highly visual interactive energy efficiency review and free personalised ‘smart plan’, which outlines improvements which could be made, is included free in this service.

Sales Guarantee

SSE is committed to ensuring that all sales are carried out in a fair, transparent, appropriate and professional way. All household energy and home services customers will receive a Sales Guarantee which gives additional reassurance and confidence to customers when they choose SSE as their energy supplier. The Sales Guarantee ensures that if any customer shows that they switched their energy supply to SSE after being given inaccurate information they will have any resulting financial loss made good. This Guarantee has been extended further and now covers all energy, domestic gas, electrical and renewable maintenance and installation services.

Lee Maher, Head of Smart Services said: “Last year we announced our intention to launch a nationwide network of community based energy advisers and we are very proud to now bring Smart Services in to UK homes. Independent research2 has shown us that consumers really do value face to face contact and we believe this new service combines transparency, simplicity and fairness in a way that meets the needs of many customers today.

“Our mission is clear - to help customers use less energy and save money.”

The easiest way to book an appointment is to call the Smart Services freephone number on 0800 975 2440 for Scottish Hydro customers and 0800 975 2459 for SWALEC consumers.