British Gas Energy Trust hosted the London Disability Summit in October 2025, bringing together policy, regulatory and delivery leaders to discuss targeted action for disabled and vulnerable people, including how to close the fuel poverty gap1. The Trust's account of the summit was published on 9 December 20251.
The summit followed a September campaign by the charity Scope, which is part-funded by British Gas Energy Trust to deliver energy advice to communities, focused on building awareness of its Disability Energy Service and the national Priority Service Register1. The campaign ran across Scope's shops, at events and through digital media, with a particular focus on Scotland, where fewer sign-ups have been seen1. The service is open to any household in England, Scotland and Wales where one or more disabled people live, and eligible residents can receive help with managing energy debt, changing meters, energy efficiency and understanding energy bills1. Support is available by phone or email, and every eligible household receives a personalised action plan1.
Scope reported the average level of debt coming through the service is £2,400, and that its latest findings show disabled households need an extra £1,095 each month on average to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households1.
"Customers are very concerned about covering charges when the colder months arrive. We try to reassure customers that we can speak to their providers and discuss measures they have in place to support their customers over these crucial months when heating has to stay on for longer."
The campaign also highlighted the Priority Services Register, which enables vulnerable people to access power supply in an emergency, extra support and communications tailored to their needs, such as bills in accessible formats1. Scope's wider team can also help people check the benefits they are entitled to and signpost to other services1.
Why it matters for households
For a household where someone is disabled, the energy support described here is separate from the general retail market. The Disability Energy Service is free and open across England, Scotland and Wales where at least one resident is disabled, and it covers practical matters such as debt, metering and bill comprehension rather than supply itself1. The £2,400 average debt figure and the £1,095 monthly extra cost figure indicate the scale of the gap the summit discussed1.
The Priority Services Register is the mechanism that sits with the supplier rather than the charity: it covers emergency power supply access, extra support and accessible bill formats1. Households with medical equipment, older residents and those in sheltered or retirement housing often have overlapping needs of this kind, and the register is the route through which suppliers record them.
What happens next
No further dates or commitments from the summit have been reported1. The Trust notes that its published post has not been updated in a while and that some details may no longer be accurate1.
Sources1 cited
- Energy Support for Disabled Households | British Gas Energy Trust, britishgasenergytrust.org.uk