Community Energy Saving Programme

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.