This talk will report findings from a UK Research and Innovation (via the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) funded project, titled ‘Protecting Minority Ethnic Communities Online’.

Energy suppliers typically do not collect or analyse data based on ethnicity, creating a ‘blind spot’ for understanding how these communities engage with digital services.

As a result, ethnicity data falls through the cracks. This is very concerning as government statistics and research have consistently indicated that these communities face higher rates of fuel poverty and energy insecurity compared to their white counterparts.

This talk will present key organisational challenges stemming from electricity market design as well as results of an agent-based model to identify what interventions may improve access to online services.