ECR presentation by Danielle Butler

1. Communicating
Energy
Vulnerability:
The Energy Advice
Organisation
Danielle Butler @delisabethb
@SHUSU_Research
@FuelPovertyRN
#NEAconf

2. To explore the social process of energy advice,
within and beyond institutional settings
Overarching aim:
The research aims to explore:
(a) Energy-related issues, challenges and vulnerabilities
(b) Energy knowledge, expertise and networks
(c) Solutions to and understandings of energy vulnerability
(d) Effective? Valuable? Limitations of ‘measuring’?

3. Context one Context two Context three
Energy advice in a
formal advice
organisation
Energy advice in
‘mundane’ settings
Energy advice
online
Using a bottom-up, qualitative, mixed-methods approach
Three ‘energy advice’ contexts
Research design:

4. Context one Context two Context three
Energy advice in a
formal advice
organisation
Energy advice in
‘mundane’ settings
Energy advice
online
Nationally
•Statutory consumer watchdog for
energy consumers
•3000 locations, 2.7 million people, 6
million issues
Manchester Energy Advice Service
•Dedicated and specialist energy
advice team
This research
•Professional experience
•The ‘advisor’ perspective
•Six semi-structured interviews
The Energy Advice organisation

5. I wish I had more time. I really do.
But that’s not Citizens Advice’s fault.
It’s everything else. For so many
people there is just too much going on
and too many difficult things to deal
with. (P5C1)
Preliminary findings (1)
Probably that I can say I’m from such
and such organisation and that
instantly makes them listen more. Or
maybe more willing to listen (P1C1)
No doesn’t mean the final no, it’s just
the first no…I guess I have more clout.
(P2C1)

6. Preliminary findings (2)
[On energy debts]…That’s what gets
them through the front door .
(P4C1)
And right now, well for about three
months I’ve been on the standard tariff.
You know, I know that I am paying more
for my electricity right now but I just
haven’t, well…I’ve just been lazy really.
I really should sort it. It’s one of those –
do as I say not as I do.
(P2C1)

7. Other emerging ideas:
Mode or
method, as
well as
context
Types of
‘work’
Knowledge
Practical
Emotional
‘Detective’
Support
mechanisms
and
structures
Living
‘circumstances’
vs
‘conditions’

8. @delisabethb
@SHUSU_research
@careatsalford
@FuelPovertyRN
Thank you
Danielle Butler
d.e.butler@edu.salford.ac.uk