In response to the complex and varied needs of households, ACIL Allen developed a framework for targeting energy services and programs, with policymakers in mind as a primary audience.
The result was the Supporting Households Framework, a sophisticated multidimensional consumer segmentation framework to help industry, community groups and government deliver highly targeted programs tailored to the diverse needs of households.
Read the Supporting Households Framework (PDF, 12.30MB)
A Policymakers Guide to the Supporting Households Framework was also developed to assist and support policymakers in using The Supporting Households Framework, to think outside the box and embrace a tailored consumer-centric approach through using the framework.
Read the Policymakers Guide (PDF, 4.70MB)
As Power Shift’s research found, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. No single website, single mainstream media TV campaign or solitary factsheet will reach and help every household. To be effective, assistance and information must be delivered in a format and channel that suits the way consumers live.
The Supporting Households Framework outlines the choices a household can make that will help them manage their energy bill or their energy usage. Mapping households against their motivation, ability and opportunity to manage their bills produces nine different ‘household types’. Having understood where households can or cannot act, the Supporting Households Framework provides an indication of which tools and services are most likely to help that household.
Demonstrating the value of consumer-led design
The benefits for policymakers and decision makers using the Supporting Households Framework is that they can:
- Arrive at an evidence-based solution to consumer needs, which can be used to assess the likely effectiveness of different solutions or ideas
- Remove the 'guesswork' of what will or won't work when giving advice or designing and implementing new tools and services
- Put the needs and preferences of households at the front and centre of decision-making and provide a common frame of reference for understanding how decisions are being made in the best interest of consumers.
In June 2019, Energy Consumers Australia commissioned 89 Degrees East to develop exemplar resources and tools across four consumer groups, to showcase how the Supporting Households Framework assists with tailored communications from trusted sources/partners.
Those resources are able to be downloaded in PDF below – we are happy for those to be updated and used. Should you want them in Word version, please contact us.
Low-income homeowners
Delivery partner: Financial Counselling Australia
Resources to hand out to clients:
A1 Take Control of Your Energy Bills (PDF, 286.08KB)
A2 Simple Steps to Save on Your Energy Bills (PDF, 788.76KB)
A3 Efficient Appliances Cost Less to Run (PDF, 1.25MB)
A4 It's OK to Ask for Help (PDF, 911.44KB)
Resources to help financial counsellors:
A5 Preventing Energy Hardship (PDF, 603.58KB)
To hand out with the Home Energy Savings Kit (containing a draught stopper, weather seal tape, a thermometer and 2 LED lightbulbs, as well as the following factsheet):
Younger and first time renters
Delivery partner: Tenant Advice Organisations
To distribute to renters:
Videos for Renters
Video resources for young and first time renters
Older people who are not engaged
Delivery partner: Council of the Ageing
To support peer-to-peer learning:
C1 Talking Energy with your Peers (PDF, 583.32KB)
C2 Preventing Energy Hardship for Older Australians (PDF, 1.37MB)
C3 COTA Energy Training Module (PDF, 998.46KB)
C4 Managing Your Energy Bills to Support Your Health (PDF, 522.04KB)
C5 Reduce Your Energy Bills by Upgrading Old Appliances (PDF, 919.50KB)
First Nations Australians in Remote and Regional Communities
Delivery partner: Indigenous Consumer Assistance Network
To assist community workers:
D1 Yarnin' Energy With Indigenous Households (PDF, 1.16MB)
D2 Energy in Remote Indigenous Communities (PDF, 443.99KB)
To give to households alongside an Energy Saving Kit (containing a draught stopper, weather seal tape, a thermometer and 2 LED lightbulbs as well as the following factsheet):
D4 Top 5 Energy Savings Tips for Your Household (PDF, 999.57KB)
