Through the Energy Advice Points (PAE), we aim to identify and reduce energy poverty and improve energy efficiency in Barcelona. Anyone can contact them to learn about their energy rights and receive advice on how to reduce excessive charges on basic utility bills.
The project’s objectives include identifying potential situations of energy poverty, carrying out interventions in the homes of vulnerable families, and ensuring compliance with Law 24/2015.
There are a total of 12 Energy Advice Points, most of which are located in Barcelona City Council housing offices. There are currently two offices in the districts of Nou Barris, Sants-Montjuïc and Horta-Guinardó, and one office in Sant Andreu, Sant Martí, Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Gràcia and Les Corts. The district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi does not have its own office.
How do they work?
At these locations, we carry out an initial assessment of users’ situations and provide them with the information they need (information about workshops, the social tariff, etc.). If they require personalised advice due to their situation of energy vulnerability, we refer them to the back offices, which provide a more private setting where we carry out all the necessary procedures to help reduce their energy consumption and adjust their utility bills. We have five back offices across Barcelona.
If we identify a need for further support, we carry out a home intervention, where we carefully assess the person’s situation, provide advice on how to improve their energy habits and, if necessary, install low-cost materials to improve the energy efficiency of their home.
Structure
The Energy Advice Points have a team of 60 staff members in total, 20 of whom are part of an employment programme aimed at people experiencing long-term unemployment. This working model was launched through Ecoserveis’ Energia la Justa pilot project and has continued through the employment integration programme developed by the ABD-FABD-Ecoserveis temporary consortium (UTE). Through this programme, every 8–10 months, 20 people join the team, receive two months of training and then work for six months at one of the Energy Advice Points.
A specific distribution of professional profiles has been established at each Energy Advice Point (PAE) to provide a response tailored to the service needs of each location. Each team consists of 11 people: one coordinator, six permanent professionals and four professionals from the employment programme.
The Energy Advice Points (PAE) during COVID-19
In response to the lockdown and mobility restrictions implemented during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, the service adapted its operations to ensure continuity and guarantee access to energy services for citizens throughout the pandemic.
Remote contact channels were activated almost immediately across all areas:
- Telephone: +34 93 000 80 54 (Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
- Email at the following addresses:
- Ciutat Vella: paecv@bcn.cat
- Eixample: paeeix@bcn.cat
- Sants-Montjuïc: paestm@bcn.cat
- Les Corts: paelc@bcn.cat
- Sarrià-Sant Gervasi: paessg@bcn.cat
- Gràcia: paegr@bcn.cat
- Horta-Guinardó: paehg@bcn.cat
- Nou Barris: paenb@bcn.cat
- Sant Andreu: paesa@bcn.cat
- Sant Martí: paesm@bcn.cat
- Guaranteeing citizens’ energy rights and improving energy efficiency.
- Promoting employment and improving the employability of people who face difficulties accessing the labour market.
- Promoting community-based action to tackle energy poverty.
The ABD Association, the ABD Foundation and Ecoserveis have formed a temporary consortium (UTE) and are responsible for coordinating the project across the city. We are also responsible for implementing and managing the service in the Nou Barris district.
SAE Santa Coloma
Oficina d’Atenció Energètica a Vic
Energia la Justa
PAPE
SAE Barberà
Pla d’Ocupació a Figueres
Pla d’Ocupació Agència Energia Barcelona
Barcelona
