SGN, the gas distribution network for Scotland and southern England, announced on 16 October 2023 that it has launched an energy efficiency tool for its customers, developed with support from the Energy Saving Trust1. The company said homeowners answering a few questions about their property could save an average of £110 a year on their energy bills1.
The tool takes users through a virtual tour of a typical home and indicates which appliances cost the most to run1. It then emails a report with a tailored action plan identifying cost-effective efficiency and renewable investment solutions, alongside advice on saving energy1. SGN said users are encouraged to take measures such as replacing old lightbulbs with energy-efficient alternatives, avoiding leaving appliances on standby, and minimising heat lost to draughty doors and windows1.
"Millions of our customers can change their home energy use habits to save money and lessen their impact on the environment through our new energy efficiency tool."
SGN also pointed to a dedicated helpline staffed by energy advisors, offering free energy packs and information on increasing household income1. The company said this support is available to all SGN customers and its community partners1. Its Vulnerability Manager, Linda Spence, said engineers see first-hand the impact of cold, damp properties on wellbeing, particularly for vulnerable customers struggling to afford heating1.
The announcement does not set out how the £110 average figure was calculated, which property types or regions it covers, or whether it reflects gas, electricity or both. Those details have not been reported1. The tool sits alongside SGN's wider energy crisis support advice1.
Why it matters for households
The saving quoted is an average, not a guarantee, and it rests on households acting on the plan the tool produces. The measures named are low-cost behavioural and fabric changes rather than major installations: lighting, standby power and draughts1. For a home's energy independence, that matters because these steps reduce the volume of gas and electricity a household needs to buy in the first place, which lowers exposure to price changes on the suppliers market. The tool's action plan also flags renewable investment options, though the announcement gives no figures for those1.
Households wanting to judge the £110 figure against their own circumstances can compare it with published estimates of what individual measures save, such as draught-proofing and insulation, or with the broader question of how much could be saved by improving a home's energy efficiency. The tool itself is described in more detail in the guide to the Home Energy Efficiency Tool. SGN's role as a network operator is set out in the page on SGN: Scotland and Southern Gas Networks.
What happens next
No further dates or rollout stages are given in the announcement. The tool and the advice helpline are described as available now to SGN customers and community partners1.