Social indicator mapping

We use detailed data and new technology to help us target and reach people who need a little extra help.

Our social indicator mapping tool enables us to identify areas where our vulnerable customers live. This powerful tool allows us to offer guidance and support that keeps them safe and warm. 

By identifying target areas, we can focus our resources on people and populations who need them most.

To help us, we partner with the Centre for Sustainable Energy. Together, we undertook a population mapping exercise to identify vulnerable households in our area. We were specifically searching for people who would benefit from registering on our Priority Services Register (PSR) and those who may be finding it hard to pay for the energy they need.

To help us, we’ve used the most up-to-date national data and used the definitions of vulnerability and fuel poverty provided by Ofgem, the UK Government and stakeholders.

You can see the results of our Social Indicator Mapping here:

Mapping Customer Vulnerability - Methodology Report

Data sources and user guide

Horizon Scan Research Project 2023 

To inform and assist us and our partner network to deliver the social obligations programme, we commissioned the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) to carry out an updated Horizon Scan in 2023. This scanned organisations offering energy and affordable warmth services to vulnerable customers in our four license areas. This was an update from CSE who previously carried out a horizon scan for us in 2017. Since then, there have been significant changes in the energy advice landscape, global and UK socio-economic contexts including:

• The legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic
• The cost of living and energy crises
• Wider acknowledgement of the health implications of living in a cold home • Broader changes & challenges in the energy system
• The climate emergency The research objectives :

1. Identify service providers operating within our licence areas that offer support to priority service register (PSR) vulnerable customers for the following nine service areas: (1) Income maximisation; (2) Energy efficiency improvements; (3) Heating solutions (traditional); (4) Behavioural change; (5) Smart energy installations (including heat pumps); (6) Smart energy advice; (7) Health and wellbeing (e.g. handrails); (8) Local resilience; (9) Off-gas support.
2.  Understand more about the service providers, organisations and funded schemes identified – geographical coverage, range of services provided, vulnerable people supported, referral networks, current staffing, capacity and appetite to expand activities, what has changed for them in the last two to three years.
3.  Understand more about the quality and impact of services offered and how this may have changed since 2018.
4. Identify geographical gaps or ‘thin spots’ in provision, in terms of geographical coverage or reaching particular vulnerable groups.
5.  Review the opportunities for us to work with and/or actively support these services to contribute to meeting our social obligations and objectives across our licence areas.

You can access the findings of the database and the report below. 

Horizon Scan 2023 Database 

Horizon Scan 2023 Report 

Want to work with us?

We're open and transparent with our data because we believe it’s the right thing to do in helping those who need it most. The best data helps us make the best decisions, and we’re always looking for ways to improve the information we hold.

If your agency or organisation wants to use this data or work with us to support those who need it, contact us today.

We’re particularly excited to work with organisations operating within the geographical “hotspots” revealed by this mapping exercise.

If you’d like any more information on our Social Indicator Maps or would like to work with us, contact Tracey Cullen, our Social Obligations Officer, on 01332 827644 tcullen@nationalgrid.co.uk. 

The video below has information and instruction on how to use the vulnerability map.

Vulnerability map