Community Energy Saving Programme

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The Community Energy Saving Programme was an obligation on large UK energy companies to deliver energy saving measures to low income households. The obligation came into force on 1 September 2009 and ran until 31 December 2012. [1] CESP was designed as a pilot for an area based obligation, and the subsequent Energy Company Obligation includes a more flexible area-based component, the Carbon Saving Communities Obligation. [2]

Over 290,000 measures were delivered under CESP. Around half of these were forms of home insulation, and almost 40% were replacement boilers or heating controls provided with a new heating system. [3]

The programme delivered carbon savings of 16.31 million tons of CO2, 84.7% of the target. Progress was slow at first, and the majority of the savings were only achieved in the final six months of the three-year programme. [4]

Three energy suppliers complied with their obligations under CESP: EDF Energy, E.ON and RWE npower. Meanwhile, British Gas, SSE and Scottish Power fell short, leaving Ofgem considering whether to impose a financial penalty. Four independent generators were also set targets, with which only Eggborough Power complied. [4]

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References

  1. Ofgem. "Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP)" . Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  2. DECC. "The Green Deal and Energy Company Obligation consultation response" . Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  3. "CESP Update" (PDF). Ofgem. May 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 "The final report of the Community Energy Saving Programme (CESP) 2009-2012" (PDF). Ofgem. May 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.